Concepts
It indicates the agreed-upon set of activities needed to be completed for a product backlog item or an increment to be considered as done. A DoD plays an essential role in Agile project management. These activities could include the development, testing, inspection and approval process, to mention a few, but they’re typically unique to each team. Formulating and evolving a DoD is a practice that guarantees products are at any time in a usable state.
Part 1: The Practice of Formulating and Iteratively Evolving a Definition of Done
Formulating a Definition of Done (DoD) entails defining agreed-upon criteria that a product must meet to be considered completed. It should clearly lay out the stringent set of conditions that need fulfillment before marking tasks as “completed.” A DoD ensures that the whole team has a shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete. It’s an ideal mechanism to ensure that quality is embedded in the product.
While formulating a DoD, it’s essential to remember that it is not static. As organizations grow and projects evolve, the DoD also needs to evolve to fit the team’s context and the project at hand. Iteratively evolving a DoD involves regularly revisiting and refining it, thus continuously improving the team’s process and work quality over time. The evolution of the team’s DoD is a manifestation of the team’s growth.
Part 2: Reasons Why and How the Definition of Done Should Evolve
As software development evolves, the Definition of Done (DoD) should also evolve to fit the changing conditions. Below are three key reasons why a DoD should evolve:
- Growing Maturity of the Team: When a team masters the practices on its current DoD and consistently meets them, it means they are ready to undertake an advanced set of practices. The team’s DoD should thus reflect this growth. It’s an indication of improved skillsets, competency, and increased capacity to deliver higher quality products.
- Changes in Organization Policies or Practices: Changes in an organization’s standards, regulations, or practices could warrant the iteration of the DoD. It makes sure that the DoD aligns with the organization’s values and standards, thus ensuring harmonious work processes.
- Feedback from Stakeholders: Feedback is an invaluable resource in any software development process. Hence, any feedback from stakeholders, whether negative or positive, can trigger a change in the DoD. Feedback provides insight into areas needing improvement and ensures that the end product meets the users’ needs.
Concerning how the DoD evolves, a recommended approach is to conduct regular retrospectives where team members can discuss the current DoD and propose enhancements. They can also identify obstacles they encountered during the completion of tasks. From these retrospectives, actions can be planned to evolve the existing DoD.
N.B. Any update to the DoD should involve all team members to maintain shared understanding and commitment to meet the enhanced requirements.
Table: Evolution of a Sample DoD
| Initial DoD | Evolved DoD |
|---|---|
| Code is written | Code is written and meets coding standards |
| Code is tested using manual tactics | Code is tested using automated testing |
| Product functionalities are acceptable | Product functionalities are acceptable and have minimal technical debt |
Formulating a Definition of Done (DoD) and ensuring its evolution is an integral part of Agile software development. Done correctly, it prevents ambiguity, fosters team collaboration, and paves the way for delivering high-quality software that meets stakeholders’ expectations.
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True or False: The Definition of Done (DoD) should be static and unchanging.
- Answer: False
Explanation: The DoD should evolve over time, based on the team’s experiences, improvements in practices, and changes in the project requirements.
Which of the following are reasons for evolving a Definition of Done (DoD)?
- A. To reflect improvements in development and testing practices
- B. To keep the document length short
- C. To align with the changing project requirements
- D. Because of mandate by the management
- Answer: A, C
Explanation: The DoD should evolve based on both improvements in practices and changes in project requirements, and not because of superficial reasons like document length or external imposition.
Why is it important to iteratively evolve the Definition of Done (DoD)?
- Answer: To keep it relevant and functional
Explanation: As the team progresses, their understanding of the project requirements and best development practices improve. This improved understanding should be reflected in the DoD to keep it meaningful and functional.
Formulating a Definition of Done (DoD) promotes what?
- A. Teamwork
- B. Uniform understanding of completeness
- C. Quick decision making
- D. Reducing workload
- Answer: B
Explanation: A DoD ensures everyone on the team has a clear and uniform understanding of when a task is considered complete.
What process does iteratively evolving the DoD encourage?
- A. Iterative development
- B. Continual learning
- C. Ad hoc decision making
- D. Scrum of scrums
- Answer: B
Explanation: Continual evolution of the DoD encourages the team to continually learn and improve their practices and understanding.
Who should participate in formulating and evolving the Definition of Done (DoD)?
- A. Scrum Master only
- B. Product Owner only
- C. The entire Scrum Team
- D. Stakeholders
- Answer: C
Explanation: The entire Scrum Team, which includes the Scrum Master, Product Owner, and the Developers, should participate in formulating and evolving the DoD.
True or False: The Definition of Done (DoD) should be followed strictly without exception.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Although the DoD serves as a guide, there may be times when it must be adapted based on the specific situation or context.
When should the Definition of Done (DoD) be reviewed?
- A. At the start of every sprint
- B. After every sprint
- C. When a significant issue is encountered
- D. All of the above
- Answer: D
Explanation: The DoD should be reviewed at the start of every sprint, after every sprint, and whenever a significant issue is encountered that may necessitate a change.
True or False: The Definition of Done (DoD) should represent the minimum quality standard of deliverables.
- Answer: True
Explanation: A well-constructed DoD defines the minimum quality standard of deliverables, ensuring that the team consistently delivers high-quality output.
The Definition of Done (DoD) should be shared with who?
- A. Scrum master
- B. The Scrum team
- C. Stakeholders
- D. All of the above
- Answer: D
Explanation: The DoD should be shared with the Scrum Master, the rest of the Scrum team, and stakeholders to ensure transparency and shared understanding.
True or False: A Definition of Done (DoD) is formulated and evolved only based on the team’s experiences.
- Answer: False
Explanation: The evolution of DoD is based on not just the team’s experiences, but also best practice improvements and changes in project requirements.
True or False: Evolving a Definition of Done (DoD) could lead to reducing the project’s risks.
- Answer: True
Explanation: By keeping the DoD updated with the team’s experiences, improved practices, and changes in project requirements, it can help in mitigating risks associated with the project.
Great post! The evolving nature of the Definition of Done (DoD) is crucial for maintaining high standards in development.
I totally agree. A static DoD can become obsolete quickly as the team and project requirements evolve.
Can someone explain how often we should revisit the DoD?
One reason the DoD should evolve is to incorporate new learnings and best practices that the team discovers over time.
Don’t forget to adapt the DoD as technology and tools change. It’s essential to stay current.
How do you handle conflicts during the DoD revision process?
I think frequent changes to the DoD can lead to confusion. Any thoughts?
Our team incorporates customer feedback into the DoD. Has anyone else tried this?