Definition of Done in Scrum

Scrum is one of the most demanding frameworks among Agile Methodologies. Professionals from the Agile world should be familiar with the concept of Scrum values and the Scrum framework. An individual should be aware of creating Product Increments through Sprints and delivering value. There are a few key terms that the Scrum team member must know and understand thoroughly. One of these terms, which is often used throughout the Sprint process, is “Definition of Done”. A product increment must meet these criteria before being released to customers. Additionally, it indicates that an Agile team is focusing on delivering value and reducing rework.

This article provides insight into the various aspects of the Definition of Done and explains how it is essential for a Sprint to be successful.

What is the Definition of Done in Scrum?

The definition of done in Scrum refers to the set of criteria and conditions that a User Story must fulfil to be accepted by the customer. A user story formulated by the team and added to the Sprint Backlog ensures that the software's quality is excellent. Having a DoD for a user story prevents the team from reworking and saves time in the sprint. Thus, user stories that are not sufficiently completed will not be promoted to higher-level environments. Hence, it does not reach the customers or users.

In a simple word, what is dod? The Definition of Done in Agile Scrum encompasses all aspects of the user story. It includes development, coding, review, quality analysis, testing, and deployment. Hence, user stories that match acceptance requirements but have not been tested cannot be included in the product. Therefore, the DOD agile is an integral part of product development, which helps sprints to be successful. Definition of Done contains four features that the user story has to fulfil; they are:

• Acceptance Criteria: It is a set of statements or guidelines that the user story must fulfil to be completed.
• Code Review: In this process, the sprint is reviewed to detect any errors.
• Testing: All the code must be tested before it can be incorporated into the product.
• Immediately Deployed: After developing all the features, they should be integrated into the product. 

The Definition of Done in Agile Scrum is more of a checklist, where the team checks the list to ensure that all required elements for the feature to work are fulfilled. Thus,  the list of tasks necessary for a user story depends on several factors, including the nature of the product, the tools and technologies used, and the obstacles the team faces. 

Also Read: Top Scrum Master Interview Questions and Answers

DoD in Scrum Examples

The Definition of Done always includes some questions like :

• How do we guarantee that we meet the business needs?
• How can we ensure the quality of the product is maintained?

Therefore, an example of a definition of done scrum includes:

• Acceptance criteria
• Testing
• Multiple checks of the product
• Documentation 

The Definition of Done in Agile Scrum could be used as a tool to report work to other team members and the Product Owner. Hence, a simple DoD agile should at least encompass designing, coding, integrating, testing, and documenting, which should contribute to creating a product that adds value to both the user and the customer.

What are the Tasks Present in This Process?

It depends on the team members and the customers as to what they expect from the product increment. However, a general overview of the aspects involved in the definition of done Scrum is:

• Review of the features to identify any errors and ensure they align with the user story.
• The developers refactor the code and format it in a standard way.
• The end-user documentation is available.
• The developed code must undergo various types of testing.
• Identify and fix the errors.
• Acceptance testing for the features has to be conducted.
• The Product Increment can go live on the production servers.

Also Check: Who Creates the Definition of Done?

Difference between Acceptance Criteria and Definition of Done in Scrum 

The definition of done in Scrum is created before the development process starts.  Although it remains consistent throughout the project outcomes. Thus, it is the product owner's responsibility to generate DoD before beginning the development process and recheck the definition of done list to prevent rework. 

In addition, Acceptance criteria are created for each user story during iteration planning and Product Backlog refinement. The product owner and team agree on the acceptance criteria while preparing for upcoming sprints. Subsequently, this approach records each user story rather than separating them into overarching documents.

What are the Benefits of Using DoD?

There are numerous benefits of having a Definition of Done in a Sprint. A few of them are:

• Transparent Responsibilities: This allows team members to understand their role in the sprint and the roles of others, offering clarity that helps them focus on their work. As a result, the process becomes more predictable, enabling Product Owners and team members to anticipate what the other person is delivering.
• Successful Sprint Outcomes: This method also assesses whether you can complete the Sprint and deliver value as promised. It helps the Scrum team become more reliable, and the stakeholders and customers become satisfied with their work.
• Improve Quality of Product: The workload of other staff members is reduced as the quality of work delivered by team members improves. A Definition of Done may ensure that there are fewer bugs to fix, which in turn reduces the workload.
• Developing Sustainability: The team can focus on creating more value instead of resolving rework. Henceforth,  this increased confidence enables the team to deliver more valuable Product Increments. 

Conclusion

The definition of done in Scrum is an essential list that helps teams ensure they are delivering high-quality products that provide increments. Teams can successfully lower the number of bugs by following this checklist. The process reduces the pressure on the developers and lowers the risk of rework.  Thus, DoD ensures that the product undergoes rigorous steps of code review, testing, and deployment, resulting in a high-quality final product. Definition of Done also fosters openness and productivity within teams, serving as a guide for development work. Therefore, the DoD is decided upon before the sprint starts, and everyone should follow the process to minimise rework. Simpliaxis offers Agile training courses that cover these fundamental concepts. Consequently, these courses help teams work together more effectively and be more productive by clarifying development processes.