Understanding the Definition of Ready (DoR) and Definition of Done (DoD) is essential for successful Scrum teams. While both terms help establish clarity in the development process, they serve very different purposes. Without proper alignment on these definitions, teams can struggle with quality, velocity, and transparency—three core pillars of Scrum success.

This article breaks down the differences, explains why they matter, and shows how Scrum Masters can facilitate better alignment around both.

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What is the Definition of Ready (DoR)?

The Definition of Ready is a checklist that outlines the minimum criteria a Product Backlog Item (PBI) must meet before it can be considered for a Sprint.

A PBI that meets the Definition of Ready is:

• Clearly defined

• Small enough to be completed within one Sprint

• Understood by the development team

• Has acceptance criteria

• Includes necessary dependencies and designs

The DoR helps Scrum Teams avoid pulling incomplete or ambiguous work into the Sprint Backlog. It protects the Sprint goal by ensuring the team only commits to work they can start and finish confidently.

Sample Definition of Ready Criteria

Criteria	Description
Clear user story	Written from the user’s perspective and provides value
Acceptance criteria defined	Clear test conditions or expected behavior
Dependencies resolved	External dependencies identified or removed
Small enough	Estimated and sized to fit within a single Sprint
Team understanding	Discussed during refinement and understood by the team

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What is the Definition of Done (DoD)?

The Definition of Done is a formal agreement of what "done" means for any deliverable—whether it’s a user story, feature, or product increment. Unlike DoR, which prevents unready work from entering a Sprint, the DoD ensures quality on delivery.

A DoD might include:

• Code is written and peer-reviewed

• Unit and integration tests pass

• Feature is deployed to staging

• Documentation is updated

• Product Owner accepts the deliverable

The Definition of Done is a shared understanding among the team, Product Owner, and stakeholders of what completed work means. It’s key to maintaining transparency and accountability within the Scrum framework.

Sample Definition of Done Criteria

Criteria	Description
Code complete	All code written and reviewed
Tested	Passed unit, integration, and acceptance tests
Integrated	Merged into main branch and built without issues
Documented	User and technical documentation updated
Accepted by Product Owner	Meets all acceptance criteria and reviewed by PO

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DoR vs. DoD: What’s the Difference?

While both definitions use checklists, their purposes are distinct.

Aspect	Definition of Ready (DoR)	Definition of Done (DoD)
Purpose	Determines if work can be pulled into a Sprint	Confirms if work meets quality and completeness
Timing	Used before the Sprint starts	Used after the work is completed
Owner	Product Owner + Development Team	Development Team + QA + Product Owner
Outcome	Sprint Backlog acceptance	Potentially shippable increment

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Why the Distinction Matters

Many teams mistakenly use the two definitions interchangeably, leading to confusion about when work should start or be considered complete. This often results in:

• Incomplete work entering the Sprint

• Misalignment between stakeholders and developers

• Quality issues and rework

By keeping both definitions separate and explicit, the Scrum Team ensures clarity at every stage of the process.

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How Scrum Masters Help Enforce These Definitions

A Certified Scrum Master (CSM) plays a vital role in coaching the team and stakeholders around these boundaries. They ensure that:

• The Definition of Ready is realistic and not a bottleneck

• The Definition of Done reflects quality and is achievable within the Sprint

• Teams refine backlog items collaboratively, ensuring they meet the DoR

• Review meetings check against the DoD to avoid incomplete or misunderstood work

For professionals interested in becoming skilled in such facilitation, enrolling in a Certified Scrum Master training helps gain practical tools and knowledge to support Scrum teams effectively.

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Tips for Defining and Refining Your DoR and DoD

1. Co-create with the Team

Avoid dictating these definitions. Facilitate workshops where the Scrum Team discusses and agrees on the criteria.

2. Revisit Periodically

As the team matures, the Definition of Ready and Done should evolve. Regular retrospectives are a good time to reflect and refine.

3. Keep It Simple

Don’t let the checklist become overly complicated. Focus on minimum criteria that provide the most value.

4. Align with Stakeholders

Ensure that stakeholders, especially the Product Owner, understand and agree with the DoD. This alignment prevents surprises during Sprint Reviews.

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How This Impacts Sprint Planning

During Sprint Planning, the team should only pull items that meet the DoR. This reduces time wasted on clarification and rework during the Sprint.

When closing a Sprint, teams should check completed items against the DoD to ensure quality and consistency. Anything that doesn’t meet the DoD must be returned to the backlog—not marked as “done.”

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Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Pitfall	How to Avoid
Using DoD as a formality	Ensure each increment is reviewed critically during Sprint Reviews
Creating a DoR that’s too rigid	Be flexible enough to allow experimentation and discovery during execution
Having inconsistent definitions	Standardize the DoR and DoD across teams (especially in scaled environments)
Lack of stakeholder involvement	Regularly involve Product Owners and stakeholders in reviewing the DoD

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Aligning with the Scrum Guide

The Scrum Guide (authored by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland) emphasizes the importance of transparency and shared understanding. The Definition of Done is explicitly mentioned as a requirement for delivering Increment quality. While the Definition of Ready is not part of the Scrum Guide, it is widely used as a best practice to improve planning reliability.

You can read more about the Scrum Guide here.

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Final Thoughts

The Definition of Ready and Definition of Done serve different stages of the Scrum lifecycle but are equally important in building trust, improving predictability, and ensuring quality. Clarity on these boundaries strengthens collaboration across the Scrum Team and stakeholders.

Scrum Masters who know how to balance both definitions are far more effective at guiding teams toward continuous improvement. If you're aiming to master these facilitation skills, consider attending a professional CSM certification training program. It will deepen your understanding of Scrum artifacts, ceremonies, and coaching techniques.

 

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