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Definition of Done (DoD)

Ensuring Quality, Transparency, and Releasability

Ensure transparency and quality with the Definition of Done (DoD). Align teams on what it means for work to be truly complete.

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Overview

The Definition of Done (DoD) is an artifact that establishes a shared understanding of what constitutes a completed and releasable product increment. It ensures that all work meets a minimum quality standard, providing transparency, consistency, and the ability to make empirical decisions based on real-world feedback.

This document outlines the Organisational Definition of Done, which applies across all teams, as well as team-specific extensions that may be necessary based on product requirements. It also highlights why the DoD is essential for transparency, adaptation, and ensuring that every increment is valuable, verifiable, and production-ready.

Organisational Definition of Done

For work to be considered Done, it must meet the following minimum standard:

Team-Specific Definition of Done

Each team must define what is required for a product increment to be considered releasable while ensuring full compliance with the Organisational Definition of Done. The organisational DoD sets the minimum quality standard that all teams must meet. If additional criteria are needed based on product-specific requirements, teams may extend their Definition of Done beyond the organisational standard but never below it. This ensures a consistent, high-quality standard across all teams and prevents discrepancies in what is considered Done.

Each team may have additional criteria, but they must adhere to the organisational DoD as a minimum. Typical extensions include:

If there are multiple teams working on a single product, those teams must agree on a shared Definition of Done and ensure it is consistently honoured.

Validation and Continuous Improvement

By strictly adhering to and continuously refining our DoD, we ensure that every increment is valuable, verifiable, and ready for real-world use.

Why the Definition of Done Matters

The Definition of Done is more than a checklist—it is the bedrock of transparency and adaptation. Without a clear and universally understood DoD, teams risk misalignment, rework, and poor decision-making.

Transparency

Enabling Adaptation

Done Means Releasable

When a Product Backlog item or an Increment is described as Done, everyone must understand what that means. This ensures transparency, the foundation of any empirical system. Without a consistent Definition of Done, teams cannot know what it takes to get something finished.

A shared Definition of Done allows us to:

  1. Maintain Transparency of what we have Done.
  2. Understand how much work is required to deliver an item.
  3. Create an agreement of what to show at the Sprint Review.
  4. Protect our Brand!

A releasable product increment adheres to all aspects of quality, with no corners cut during development. This ensures that Product Management has the choice to release at any time, rather than requiring additional work before shipping.

The Definition of Done is the commitment to quality for the Increment. Creating and adhering to a usable increment that meets the DoD ensures predictable, high-quality delivery.

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