The Definition of Done: Ensuring Quality Increments

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Too many teams celebrate a sprint’s end with a “done” task, only to discover defects in production. The real issue isn’t effort—it’s clarity. The Definition of Done (DoD) isn’t a checklist; it’s a shared agreement on quality. Without it, “done” means nothing more than “not in progress.”

As a Scrum Master, I’ve seen teams deliver stories they thought were complete—only to find them broken or unusable weeks later. The root cause? No clear, agreed-upon standard for what “done” truly means. This is where the Definition of Done steps in—not as a bureaucratic formality, but as the team’s commitment to craftsmanship.

When you start a new Scrum team, the Definition of Done is often vague or absent. That’s not a flaw—it’s a starting point. The goal is to evolve it together, not impose it from above. This chapter walks you through building, refining, and maintaining a DoD that reflects your team’s reality, not just theory.

By the end, you’ll know what is done in Scrum, how to create a DoD checklist, and avoid common quality pitfalls that undermine trust and velocity.

Why the Definition of Done Matters

Scrum isn’t about tracking tasks—it’s about delivering working, tested, and usable increments. The Definition of Done is the guardrail that ensures every story meets that bar.

Without a DoD, teams can’t measure true completion. A story marked “done” might be coded, but untested. It might pass QA, but be missing documentation. It might be deployed, but break in staging.

That’s why the DoD isn’t optional. It’s the bedrock of transparency, quality, and empirical process control. You can’t inspect what isn’t defined.

Ask yourself: if a story is “done” in your team, what must be true? Is it tested? Deployable? Documented? Integrated? That’s your DoD.

Building Your Team’s Definition of Done

Creating a DoD is a collaborative act. It must be agreed upon by the entire team—Product Owner, Scrum Master, and development members. It’s not a top-down mandate; it’s a shared contract.

Start simple. Ask your team: “What must be true for a story to be considered complete?” Then capture the answers in a checklist.

Here’s a basic framework to begin with:

Code is written and reviewed.
All unit and integration tests pass.
Code has been merged into the main branch.
Deployment scripts are ready and tested.
User documentation is updated.
Acceptance criteria are verified.

This checklist evolves. In a new team, you might not have deployment pipelines. That’s fine. Start with what you can control. As you mature, add more items—like performance testing, security scans, or accessibility checks.

Scrum Definition of Done Examples

Let’s see how real teams have shaped their DoD.

Example 1: Early-Stage Web Team
The team is building a simple CRM. Their DoD includes:

Code committed to Git and peer-reviewed.
Frontend and backend tests passing.
Story deployed to staging with a working demo.
Product Owner confirms acceptance criteria.

Example 2: Mature DevOps Team
This team has continuous deployment. Their DoD is more rigorous:

Code merged with passing CI/CD pipeline.
Automated tests cover 85% of code.
Static code analysis passes (no critical issues).
Security scan cleared.
Performance test confirms response under 1s.
Deployed to production via automated release.
Documentation updated in GitHub Wiki.

Notice how the DoD scales with capability. The first team focuses on basic quality. The second includes automation and compliance.

DoD Evolution: From Checklist to Culture

A Definition of Done isn’t static. It evolves with your team’s maturity, tools, and delivery goals.

In the first few sprints, the DoD might only cover coding and peer review. But as testing becomes automated, you add test coverage thresholds. When deployment pipelines emerge, you add integration and deployment verification steps.

Here’s a simple evolution path:

Sprint Stage	Typical DoD Items
0–2	Code written, peer-reviewed, tested, documented
3–5	Code merged, all tests pass, deployed to staging, acceptance verified
6+	CI/CD success, test coverage ≥80%, security scan cleared, performance tested, documentation published

Track your DoD evolution in a simple table or a living document. Review it during Sprint Retrospectives. Ask: “Are we missing anything that would make us more confident in deployment?”

Common Quality Pitfalls to Avoid

Even with a DoD, teams fall into traps. Watch for these mistakes:

Skipping steps due to pressure. A story might pass code review but skip testing if the sprint is tight. This creates technical debt that compounds over time.
Letting the DoD become a checklist without buy-in. If the team doesn’t understand or agree to the DoD, it’s meaningless. It becomes a box-ticking exercise.
Not updating the DoD as tools evolve. If you adopt automated deployment, you must update the DoD to include deployment verification.
Applying a one-size-fits-all DoD. Not all stories require the same level of testing. A bug fix might not need performance testing, but a new feature might. Adapt the DoD per story type.

These aren’t just errors—they’re symptoms of deeper issues in team alignment or process design.

What is Done in Scrum: A Practical Checklist

Use this template to start building your own DoD. It’s not exhaustive—it’s a foundation.

The story is implemented and merged into the main branch.
All unit and integration tests pass.
Code has been peer-reviewed and approved.
Acceptance criteria are verified by the Product Owner.
Deployment scripts are tested and available.
Documentation is updated (user guide, API docs, internal wiki).
Story is deployed to staging and verified as working.
Any required accessibility or security checks are passed.
Team agrees the story is ready for production.

Review this checklist every sprint. Ask: “Have we missed any steps that could hurt our quality?”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Definition of Done in Scrum?

The Definition of Done is a shared agreement among the team about what must be true for a product increment to be considered complete. It includes all criteria—technical, functional, and documentation—necessary for a story to be usable and deployable.

What is done in Scrum beginners should know?

Beginners should understand that “done” in Scrum means the story is fully developed, tested, reviewed, documented, and deployable. It’s not just coding. The DoD ensures transparency and prevents half-finished work from being mistaken as complete.

How do I create a Definition of Done checklist?

Start by gathering your team. Ask: “What must be true for a story to be considered complete?” Capture the answers. Begin with basics like code review, testing, and documentation. Expand over time as your team gains tools and processes.

Scrum definition of done examples for new teams?

Start simple: “Code reviewed, tests pass, deployed to staging, acceptance verified.” Add more as you grow—like security scans, automated deployment, and performance testing.

Can the Definition of Done change over time?

Absolutely. The DoD should evolve with your team’s maturity, tools, and delivery practices. It’s not a fixed rule—it’s a living agreement. Review it in every Sprint Retrospective.

Why is the Definition of Done important for quality?

Without a DoD, “done” is ambiguous. Teams may ship incomplete or broken features. The DoD ensures every increment is truly usable, tested, and reliable—building trust with stakeholders and reducing technical debt.