What Does “Done” Mean in Scrum?
“Done” means the Increment has achieved a level of quality suitable for stakeholder review and feedback and is at the same quality level required for release. It goes beyond mere completion to meet the standards in the DoD.
Metaphor
“Done” in Scrum is like a car coming off the assembly line fully built and road-tested. It’s not enough to have the frame bolted together; it must have wheels, an engine, and pass safety checks before anyone can drive it.
In the same way, an Increment isn’t “done” until it meets the Definition of Done and is ready for stakeholder use or release.
Works Consulted
In addition to any sources cited above, the following works informed my thinking: (1)
1.
Definition of Done [Internet]. [cited 2025 Sep 6]. Available from: https://www.scrum.org/learning-series/definition-done/