Definition of Done
The Definition of Done (DoD) is a fundamental concept in Scrum that establishes a shared understanding among the Scrum Team of what it means for work to be completed. It is a clear and concise list of criteria that a Product Backlog item must meet for the team to consider it complete. The DoD ensures transparency and provides a standard that guides the team's work, ensuring consistency and quality across all increments delivered. Having a well-defined DoD is crucial because it sets the quality benchmarks for the product increment. It includes all the activities that need to be completed, such as coding standards met, code reviewed, unit testing passed, integration testing completed, documentation updated, and any other organizational policies adhered to. This comprehensive checklist helps the team avoid misunderstandings about what 'done' means and prevents incomplete or low-quality work from being considered finished. The DoD promotes accountability within the team and helps manage stakeholder expectations by ensuring that each increment is potentially shippable. It enables the team to deliver features that are ready for release, even if the Product Owner decides not to release them immediately. Additionally, the DoD can evolve over time as the team's processes improve or as the product matures, allowing for continuous improvement in quality and efficiency. In summary, the Definition of Done is a vital tool in Scrum that ensures all team members have a common understanding of completion criteria. It enhances transparency, maintains quality standards, and supports the delivery of valuable, potentially releasable product increments at the end of each Sprint.
Definition of Done: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction to Definition of Done
The Definition of Done (DoD) is a crucial concept in Scrum that establishes a shared understanding of what "complete" means for a product increment. It serves as a formal checklist that must be satisfied before work can be considered finished.
Why Definition of Done is Important
1. Ensures Quality: DoD establishes minimum quality standards that all work must meet.
2. Creates Transparency: It makes clear to all stakeholders what "done" actually means, avoiding misunderstandings.
3. Reduces Technical Debt: By ensuring all necessary work is completed, DoD helps prevent technical debt from accumulating.
4. Promotes Team Accountability: The team commits to meeting these standards for all work they deliver.
5. Facilitates Planning: With a clear DoD, teams can better estimate how long work will take.
What Definition of Done Is
The Definition of Done is:
• A clear, shared list of criteria that must be met for any product increment
• Agreed upon by the entire Scrum Team (Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developers)
• Applied consistently to all Product Backlog items
• Evolving over time as team capabilities and product requirements change
• Different from acceptance criteria (which are specific to individual product backlog items)
How Definition of Done Works
1. Creation: The Scrum Team collaboratively creates the DoD, considering organizational standards, technical requirements, and quality expectations.
2. Application: During Sprint Planning, the team ensures they can complete backlog items according to the DoD.
3. Verification: In the Sprint Review, work is presented that meets the DoD.
4. Inspection: In Sprint Retrospectives, the team may refine the DoD based on experience.
5. Evolution: As the team matures, the DoD typically becomes more stringent, incorporating higher quality standards.
Examples of DoD Criteria
• Code reviewed by at least one other developer
• All unit tests pass
• Integration tests pass
• Documentation updated
• Code meets agreed coding standards
• Functionality approved by Product Owner
• No known defects
• Performance tests completed
• Security review completed
• Deployment scripts created/updated
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Definition of Done
1. Know the Difference: Clearly distinguish between DoD and acceptance criteria. DoD applies to all items, while acceptance criteria are specific to individual items.
2. Understand the Relationship: Recognize that DoD complements the Product Backlog and Sprint Backlog but serves a different purpose.
3. Focus on Key Characteristics: Remember that DoD is shared, visible, comprehensive, and evolving.
4. Identify Ownership: Know that the entire Scrum Team owns the DoD, not just the Product Owner or Scrum Master.
5. Highlight Benefits: Be prepared to explain how DoD improves quality, transparency, and predictability.
6. Recognize Common Pitfalls: Be aware of issues like having an overly simplistic DoD, not updating it, or having criteria that are too vague.
7. Multiple Choice Strategy: For exam questions, eliminate answers that suggest DoD is optional, created by only one role, or static throughout a project.
8. Scenario Questions: In scenario-based questions, look for situations where the team might need to revisit or enforce their DoD.
9. Remember Incremental Value: Connect the DoD to the concept of delivering a potentially releasable increment each Sprint.
10. Think Practical: Consider realistic examples of DoD criteria when facing application-based questions.
By mastering the concept of Definition of Done, you'll understand a fundamental aspect of delivering high-quality increments in Scrum, which is essential for both practical implementation and exam success.
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