What Immediate Signals Indicate a Weak or Missing DoD?
Disputes about releasability, unexpected compliance gaps, and last-minute surprises at release time all indicate the team lacks a clear, shared DoD. These symptoms disappear when quality criteria are made explicit and universally applied.
Metaphor
A weak DoD is like building furniture without instructions; everyone guesses what “done” means, and the missing screws only show when the chair collapses. Without clear guidance, assumptions diverge and problems surface too late.
A strong DoD is that instruction sheet, aligning the team so the product stands solid at release.
To ensure you have a strong DoD, avoid these pitfalls.
Works Consulted
In addition to any sources cited above, the following works informed my thinking: (1)
1.
Crafting a Definition of Done [Internet]. scrum.org; 2023 [cited 2025 Sep 6]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MD5onpE6jg