13- More Details of “Definition of Done”
In this lesson, we will take a closer look at the definition of done statement.
In our previous video, we defined the acceptance criteria for the item “Creating a Start Page”.
The statements here are an example of the product backlog item “Creating a Start Page,” which is prepared in more detail and shows the criteria. The accuracy or level of detail of what is written is not important. Since this example is related to software, the expressions you will see on the screen may be meaningless to some of you. Please keep in mind that these expressions are just an example throughout our lesson.
First of all, although the definition of done may seem like a checklist, the checklist statement is not used in Scrum literature. You can think of this situation as the special words doctors or lawyers use. It is normal for each discipline to have its own concepts. The important thing is to know this concept structure and to be able to speak the same language with other colleagues.
Returning to our topic, it seems that for a product backlog item to be considered complete, it must meet the following criteria:
- Providing the conditions specified in the Acceptance Criteria
- Passing the unit test
- Passing the acceptance test
- The technical document has been prepared
- The code has been reviewed by an expert developer
- The system has been tested on different web browsers and works smoothly in those browsers
- The product backlog item meets non-functional requirements such as performance, suitability, and safety
The Scrum team prepares these criteria, which may not be known by the product owner. For example, the criteria for reviewing the prepared code by an expert developer can prevent later defects and enable the inexperienced development team to learn new things. The expression that the technical document has been prepared can be the information flow of the relevant page or the contents showing the process flow. If this information is not documented in advance, and the system grows over time, controlling the system may become impossible.
Passing the unit test is testing and confirming whether the prepared function works correctly, while passing the acceptance test is the tests related to the acceptability of the system as a whole. Testing the system on different web browsers and working smoothly in those browsers seems to be another criterion. A similar consideration can be applied for mobile devices. How the login page we created looks on the screens of different mobile phones can be an acceptance criterion.
If all these criteria give positive results, the related backlog item will be considered as “done.” However, the customer or product owner should not consider the time and effort spent in Sprint as just producing the desired product. In a complex project, the number of acceptance criteria shown here as examples may be in the tens. Therefore, Scrum teams have to test whether the product backlog item they will uncover meets these criteria. In a project, hurrying the teams, in other words, demanding too much in a short time and putting pressure on the team will cause the product to be delivered without adequate quality criteria. This can cause the resulting product to experience quality issues, and the team will repeatedly work on the product to make corrections.
- What is the purpose of the definition of done in Scrum?
a. To create a checklist of tasks that need to be completed
b. To ensure that a product backlog item meets all necessary criteria before it is considered complete
c. To track the progress of the Scrum team
d. To document the acceptance criteria for a product backlog item
2. What are some of the criteria that may be included in the definition of done? (Choose two)
a. The color scheme of the product
b. Passing unit and acceptance tests
c. The number of hours spent on the product
d. Reviewing code and preparing technical documentation
- Why is it important for Scrum teams to test whether a product backlog item meets the definition of done?
a. To track the progress of the Scrum team
b. To document the acceptance criteria for the product backlog item
c. To ensure that the product backlog item is of high quality and meets all necessary criteria
d. To create a checklist of tasks that need to be completed
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Answers
1- B
2- B and D
3- C
