Definition of Done vs. Definition of Ready: The Secret to High-Performing Teams

Definition of Done vs. Definition of Ready: The Secret to High-Performing Teams

Finding yourself halfway through a Sprint only to realize a task is missing half its requirements? Or worse thinking a feature is "finished" only to have a stakeholder point out it’s missing documentation?

​If that sounds familiar, you aren’t alone. Most Agile teams struggle with the "gray areas" of productivity. That’s where the Definition of Ready (DoR) and the Definition of Done (DoD) come in. Think of them as the bookends of your Sprint: one ensures a clean start, and the other ensures a quality finish.

​Here is everything you need to know to master these two concepts and keep your team's momentum high.


1. Definition of Ready (DoR): The Starting Line

​The Definition of Ready is a set of criteria that a User Story must meet before it is allowed to enter a Sprint.

​Think of it like a chef’s mise en place. You wouldn’t start cooking a 5-course meal if half the ingredients were missing and the stove wasn't working. Similarly, a developer shouldn't start a task if the requirements are fuzzy.

​What makes a story "Ready"?

​Most teams use the INVEST acronym to define readiness:

  • ​Independent: Can it be done without waiting on another story?
  • ​Negotiable: Is there room for discussion?
  • ​Valuable: Does it provide value to the user?
  • ​Estimable: Does the team understand it enough to give it a "size"?
  • ​Small: Can it be finished within a single Sprint?
  • ​Testable: Do we know how to verify it works?

​Example DoR Criteria:

  • ​User Story is written in the "As a... I want... So that..." format.
  • ​Acceptance criteria are clearly defined.
  • ​UI/UX designs are attached (if applicable).
  • ​Dependencies are identified and cleared.

​2. Definition of Done (DoD): The Finish Line

​While the DoR focuses on the input, the Definition of Done focuses on the output. It is a shared, formal agreement on the quality standards a product increment must meet to be considered releasable.

​If the DoR is about "doing the right things," the DoD is about "doing things right."

​Why DoD is non-negotiable

​Without a clear DoD, "Done" becomes a subjective term. One developer might think "Done" means the code is on their machine, while another thinks it means it's live in production. This leads to technical debt and "hidden" work that crops up later.

​Example DoD Criteria:

  • ​Code is peer-reviewed.
  • ​Unit tests pass with at least 80% coverage.
  • ​Documentation (README or Wiki) is updated.
  • ​The feature is deployed to a staging environment.
  • ​Product Owner has "signed off" on the demo.

The "Golden Rule" for Your Team

​It’s important to remember that these aren't meant to be rigid, bureaucratic hurdles. They are evolving agreements.

​If your team finds that stories are consistently getting blocked, your DoR might need to be stricter. If bugs are leaking into production, your DoD probably needs more "teeth." Start small maybe 3 or 4 points for each and refine them during your Sprint Retrospectives.

​By mastering these two definitions, you aren't just "doing Agile" you're building a culture of accountability and excellence.


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