✅ Understanding Definition of Ready (DoR) and Definition of Done (DoD) in Agile Teams
If you’ve ever worked in an agile environment, you’ve probably heard about Definition of Ready (DoR) and Definition of Done (DoD).
These two concepts are simple in theory but extremely powerful in practice. They create alignment, avoid misunderstandings, and set a clear standard for quality and delivery.
In this article, I’ll explain both concepts in a didactic way, with examples you can apply directly to your team.
🔎 What is Definition of Ready (DoR)?
The Definition of Ready is the set of criteria that a user story or task must meet before the development team can start working on it.
It ensures that the team has all the information needed and that the backlog item is clear, feasible, and well-prioritized.
Without a DoR, teams often face ambiguities, delays, and rework.
Example DoR for a Development Squad
- The user story has a clear and concise description
- Business rules and acceptance criteria are defined
- Dependencies are mapped and manageable
- The story has been estimated by the team
- The item is prioritized in the backlog
👉 If a story doesn’t meet these points, it’s simply not ready to enter a sprint.
🏁 What is Definition of Done (DoD)?
While the DoR defines when something is ready to start, the Definition of Done defines when something is truly finished.
It is a quality agreement between the team, Product Owner, and stakeholders.
The DoD avoids situations like:
"The feature is coded, but tests are missing."
"It works locally, but we haven’t deployed it yet."
Example DoD for a Development Squad
- Code implemented and reviewed (pull request approved)
- Unit tests created and passing
- Integration tests executed successfully
- Code deployed in the test/staging environment
- Acceptance criteria validated by QA and/or Product Owner
- Documentation updated if necessary
👉 With a DoD, there’s no room for "almost done."
The feature is either done or it’s not done.
⚖️ DoR vs DoD
| Concept | When Applied | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| DoR | Before development starts | Ensures the story is clear, feasible, and ready for the team |
| DoD | After development ends | Ensures the story meets quality standards and is truly finished |
Together, they create a development lifecycle guardrail:
- DoR = clarity before starting
- DoD = quality before finishing
🚀 Benefits of Using DoR and DoD
- Fewer misunderstandings between PO, devs, and stakeholders
- Higher quality deliveries with less rework
- Predictable sprint outcomes
- Clearer team alignment on expectations
- Improved communication inside the squad
📝 Conclusion
Both Definition of Ready and Definition of Done are essential to healthy agile practices.
They bring structure without bureaucracy and help teams deliver value consistently.
If your team doesn’t have them formalized yet, start small:
- Define 3–5 DoR criteria for backlog items
- Define 3–5 DoD criteria for delivery quality
Over time, refine them based on your team’s needs.
The goal is not to create rigid rules but to build a shared agreement that guides the team towards success.