Teams often confuse 'what' they're building and 'how' it aligns with objectives with objective quality criteria, leading to chaos in agility.
In Scrum, Product and Sprint Goals provide directional clarity but remain subjective, while the Definition of Done (DoD) is an objective, non-negotiable measure of quality.
Product and Sprint Goals in Scrum are aspirational and meant to guide teams strategically, while the DoD ensures professional-grade quality.
The DoD is a benchmark for quality, ensuring every Increment is complete and meets the required standards.
Establishing a solid DoD is crucial, and it should be either an organizational or product standard reflecting the intended quality.
Common pitfalls with DoD include blurring subjective and objective criteria, overlooking automation, and treating it as a maximum rather than a minimum.
Practices for defining Done include automating tests, regular reviews, training teams, and separating quality from approval processes.
In conclusion, the DoD in Scrum is essential for maintaining quality, preventing technical debt, and building stakeholder trust.
Keeping the DoD objective and focused on quality empowers teams to meet and exceed user expectations.
The DoD should be periodically raised to improve product quality and professional-grade delivery.
How teams define and enforce the DoD, and the challenges in distinguishing subjective goals from objective quality measures, are crucial aspects of successful implementation.