Acceptance criteria are specific, measurable conditions that a product backlog item must satisfy to be considered complete and accepted by the Product Owner. They serve as a shared understanding between the Development Team and stakeholders about what defines done for a particular user story or fea…Acceptance criteria are specific, measurable conditions that a product backlog item must satisfy to be considered complete and accepted by the Product Owner. They serve as a shared understanding between the Development Team and stakeholders about what defines done for a particular user story or feature.
In Professional Scrum, acceptance criteria play a crucial role in managing products with agility by providing clarity and reducing ambiguity. They help the Product Owner communicate expectations clearly and enable the Development Team to understand exactly what needs to be delivered.
Key characteristics of effective acceptance criteria include being testable, concise, and written from the user's perspective. They typically follow formats like Given-When-Then scenarios or simple bullet point lists that describe expected behaviors and outcomes.
Acceptance criteria support several important Scrum activities. During Product Backlog refinement, they help teams estimate effort more accurately by clarifying scope. During Sprint Planning, they guide conversations about how work will be accomplished. During development, they serve as a checklist for implementation. During Sprint Review, they provide objective measures for demonstrating completed work.
The Product Owner is responsible for ensuring acceptance criteria are defined, though collaboration with the Development Team and stakeholders is encouraged. Well-written acceptance criteria prevent scope creep by establishing clear boundaries for what is included in each backlog item.
Acceptance criteria differ from the Definition of Done. While the Definition of Done applies to all product backlog items and defines quality standards for the increment, acceptance criteria are unique to each individual backlog item and describe functional requirements.
By using acceptance criteria effectively, Product Owners can make better decisions about when to accept or reject completed work, maintain transparency with stakeholders, and ensure that delivered increments truly meet customer needs and business objectives. This practice ultimately contributes to delivering valuable, high-quality products that satisfy user expectations.
Acceptance Criteria: A Complete Guide for PSPO I Exam
What are Acceptance Criteria?
Acceptance Criteria are specific conditions that a Product Backlog Item must satisfy to be considered complete and acceptable to the Product Owner and stakeholders. They define the boundaries of a user story or feature and provide clarity on what 'done' means for that particular item.
Why are Acceptance Criteria Important?
Acceptance Criteria serve several critical purposes in Agile product management:
1. Shared Understanding: They create a common language between the Product Owner, Developers, and stakeholders about what needs to be delivered.
2. Scope Definition: They help prevent scope creep by clearly defining what is included and excluded from a Product Backlog Item.
3. Quality Assurance: They provide testable conditions that can be verified, ensuring the increment meets expectations.
4. Reduced Ambiguity: They eliminate guesswork and assumptions by making requirements explicit and measurable.
5. Better Planning: Developers can better estimate work when they understand exactly what needs to be accomplished.
How Acceptance Criteria Work
Acceptance Criteria are typically written as simple, testable statements. Common formats include:
Given-When-Then Format: - Given [a certain context] - When [an action is performed] - Then [a specific outcome occurs]
Checklist Format: - The system must allow users to save their progress - Error messages must display within 2 seconds - The feature must work on mobile devices
Who Creates Acceptance Criteria?
The Product Owner is accountable for the Product Backlog and its items, including acceptance criteria. However, acceptance criteria are often refined collaboratively with Developers during Product Backlog refinement sessions. Stakeholders may also provide input to ensure business needs are captured.
Characteristics of Good Acceptance Criteria
- Testable: Each criterion can be verified as either met or not met - Clear: Written in simple language that everyone understands - Concise: Focused on essential requirements - Independent: Each criterion stands on its own - Achievable: Realistic within the Sprint context
Acceptance Criteria vs. Definition of Done
It is essential to understand the difference:
Acceptance Criteria: Specific to individual Product Backlog Items, defining what that particular feature must do.
Definition of Done: Applies to all Increments and ensures quality standards are met consistently across all work.
Both must be satisfied for work to be considered complete.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Acceptance Criteria
Tip 1: Remember that the Product Owner is accountable for acceptance criteria, even when collaborating with others to create them.
Tip 2: Acceptance criteria should be defined before Sprint Planning so Developers can properly understand and estimate the work.
Tip 3: Look for answers that emphasize collaboration and transparency. Acceptance criteria should be visible and understood by all team members.
Tip 4: When questions ask about incomplete acceptance criteria, the correct answer usually involves refining and clarifying before work begins, not during development.
Tip 5: Questions may test whether you understand that acceptance criteria are about what needs to be achieved, not how to achieve it. The Developers determine the how.
Tip 6: Be cautious of answers suggesting that stakeholders alone define acceptance criteria or that Developers have no input. Collaboration is key in Scrum.
Tip 7: If a question presents a scenario where acceptance criteria are unclear or missing, the best response typically involves stopping to clarify before proceeding with development.
Tip 8: Remember that acceptance criteria help with Sprint Goal alignment. Items selected for a Sprint should have clear criteria that support achieving the Sprint Goal.