Changing Definition of Done Hurts Team Quality
Frequent changes to the Definition of Done reduce team quality and predictability. Consistent, enforced standards are key to reliable delivery and …
TL;DR; When teams face issues with quality or delivery, the root cause is often the broader system, not just the team itself. Consistent quality requires clear engineering standards, automation, and strong leadership support, not just team-level efforts. Leaders should ensure these foundations are in place rather than simply demanding results.

If teams are struggling with quality, technical debt, or inconsistent delivery, the issue isn’t just the team—it’s the system they’re operating in.
A strong Definition of Done isn’t something teams “figure out.” It requires engineering standards, automation, and organisational commitment. If leadership isn’t providing that foundation, don’t be surprised when teams cut corners under pressure.
Quality isn’t a grassroots effort—it’s a strategic priority.
Does your leadership support teams with a strong DoD, or just demand results?
[the article is linked in the comments]
Each classification [Concepts, Categories, & Tags] was assigned using AI-powered semantic analysis and scored across relevance, depth, and alignment. Final decisions? Still human. Always traceable. Hover to see how it applies.
If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.
We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.

Bistech

Akaditi

Workday

SuperControl

Freadom

Graham & Brown
CR2
Boxit Document Solutions

Illumina

DFDS

Alignment Healthcare

Lean SA

Flowmaster (a Mentor Graphics Company)

Trayport

Sage

Emerson Process Management

Xceptor - Process and Data Automation

Deliotte

Royal Air Force

Ghana Police Service

Washington Department of Enterprise Services

Washington Department of Transport

Nottingham County Council

Department of Work and Pensions (UK)

Philips

Bistech

Illumina

Schlumberger

ALS Life Sciences

Ericson