Why is it important to establish a definition of done?
a. To create standardized work between all Agile Teams
b. To enable Scrum Master/Team Coaches to enforce quality
c. To ensure Features provide the expected business benefits
d. To create alignment on when Stories are complete
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is d. To create alignment on when Stories are complete.
Explanation:
In Agile methodologies, particularly Scrum, the “Definition of Done” (DoD) is a critical concept used to establish when a user story, feature, or task is considered complete. It is essentially a shared understanding among the development team, product owner, and stakeholders about the quality criteria and conditions that must be met for a product increment or work item to be considered “done.” The DoD outlines the specific expectations for the completeness and quality of work and is agreed upon by all members of the team.
Creating a clear and shared Definition of Done is important for several reasons:
- Establishes Consistency and Quality: The DoD ensures that all team members, regardless of their role or background, understand the criteria required to complete a task. This includes code being tested, documented, and reviewed, ensuring that the team consistently produces high-quality, production-ready work. By setting these standards, the DoD avoids situations where work is accepted before it meets the team’s quality expectations.
- Ensures Predictability: When a Definition of Done is defined and adhered to, it allows the team and stakeholders to have clear visibility into the progress and completion of work. This helps avoid misunderstandings about whether a feature or user story is truly complete, reducing uncertainty and enhancing the predictability of delivery.
- Alignment Across the Team: One of the key benefits of having a DoD is that it creates alignment within the team regarding when work is “done.” This avoids discrepancies where different team members might have different interpretations of completion. For example, a developer may think a task is done because the code is written, but the product owner or QA may believe it is incomplete due to the lack of testing or review. The DoD ensures that everyone is on the same page about what “done” means.
- Promotes Continuous Improvement: As the team reviews and adapts the Definition of Done during retrospectives, it promotes continuous improvement. The team can refine the criteria to ensure that it better reflects the evolving needs of the project and the organization.
In conclusion, a clear and agreed-upon Definition of Done aligns the team on when work is complete and ensures that there is no ambiguity around the deliverables. This alignment is crucial for maintaining the quality of the product, managing stakeholder expectations, and keeping the team on track for successful delivery.