Definition of done: the line between “done” and actually done
The definition of done is the agreed, explicit criteria a piece of work must satisfy to count as complete — the antidote to the said-done gap.
Without one, “done” means whatever the person saying it wants it to mean. With one, done is a verifiable, shared standard — which is the only kind worth trusting.
What belongs in a definition of done?
Whatever has to be true for the work to deliver value: built, reviewed, tested, deployed, documented, verified in production — whatever applies. The point is that everyone agrees on it in advance, so “done” isn't a matter of interpretation.
Why does a fuzzy definition of done cost so much?
Because everything downstream trusts the word done. When it can mean “merged” to one person and “live and working” to another, the said-done gap opens — and the cost shows up later, in the review or the renewal, multiplied.
Frequently asked
Is a definition of done the same as acceptance criteria?
Acceptance criteria are specific to one item; the definition of done is a general standard applied to every item. A task can meet its acceptance criteria and still fail the definition of done.
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