Definition of done (DoD) in Agile: Meaning and examples

The Agile definition of done is a collection of criteria that must be completed for a project to be considered “done.” It is essentially a checklist used by Scrum teams to create a shared understanding of what is required to make a product releasable.

Why is the definition of done (DoD) important? Is the Agile definition of done the same as Scrum’s? Keep on reading to learn more about DoD in Agile projects.

Key takeaways

• The definition of done (DoD) is a shared set of criteria that determines when work is complete, releasable, and meets agreed quality standards.
• In Agile and Scrum, the DoD ensures consistent quality across sprints and helps teams deliver usable, valuable increments.
• The DoD is created and owned by the Scrum team and aligns developers, product owners, and stakeholders on what “done” truly means.
• A strong definition of done improves transparency, quality, and continuous inspection and adaptation, reducing rework and uncertainty.

What is the definition of done (DoD)?

The definition of done (DoD) is a shared set of criteria that must be met for work to be considered complete and releasable. In Agile teams, “done” isn’t just about finishing the tasks on a checklist; it means the work meets agreed standards for quality, readiness, and usability, so the team can confidently ship it or build on it.

A strong DoD creates a consistent baseline for what “complete” looks like across the team. It typically includes requirements like testing, review and approval steps, documentation, and any compliance or performance checks needed to ensure the deliverable is truly ready, not just “mostly finished.”

Because it’s shared and explicit, the DoD helps teams avoid ambiguity, reduce rework, and maintain predictable quality from one sprint or project increment to the next.

What is the definition of done in Agile?

In Agile project management, the definition of done ensures that each increment meets agreed standards for quality, readiness, and usability before it is considered complete. Rather than focusing solely on task completion, Agile teams use the DoD to confirm that work delivers real value and is ready to be released or built upon.

Because Agile work evolves incrementally, a shared and explicit definition of done helps teams maintain consistent quality, reduce rework between iterations, and align expectations across developers, product owners, and stakeholders.

What is the definition of done in Scrum?

In Scrum, the definition of done is a shared set of conditions that must be met for a product increment to be considered complete. It aligns the Scrum team and product owner on what “done” means, preventing inconsistent expectations.

In this context:

A product backlog item is an individual unit of work, such as a user story or bug fix.

A product increment is the combined output of all completed backlog items at the end of a sprint.

Who creates the definition of done?

The definition of done is created and owned by the Scrum team, not by a single individual. Its purpose is to represent a shared agreement about quality and completeness, so it must reflect input from everyone responsible for delivering the work.

In practice, the DoD is co-created by:

• The development team, which defines the technical and quality standards required to complete the work
• The product owner, who ensures the criteria align with business goals, customer expectations, and release requirements
• The Scrum master who facilitates alignment, removes ambiguity, and helps the team apply Scrum principles consistently

In scaled or enterprise Agile environments, the definition of done may exist at multiple levels. Individual teams may have their own DoD, while programs or organizations establish minimum standards that all teams must meet. Team-level DoDs can then extend those standards to address specific technical, regulatory, or domain-specific needs.

Why the definition of done matters 

While the benefits of the definition of done describe how teams experience it day to day, its underlying purpose is to create consistency, quality, and improvement across every sprint and product increment. In Agile and Scrum, the definition of done exists to support three foundational outcomes that make those benefits possible:

1. A shared baseline for transparency
2. Built-in quality, not after-the-fact checks
3. A consistent reference point for inspection and adaptation

A shared baseline for transparency

The definition of done establishes a single, shared understanding of what “complete” means across the entire team. By defining this standard up front, Agile and Scrum teams avoid subjective interpretations of progress and ensure that work is evaluated consistently from sprint to sprint.

Built-in quality, not after-the-fact checks

In Agile and Scrum, quality is not something added at the end. The definition of done embeds quality directly into the workflow by requiring specific standards, such as testing, reviews, or approvals, to be met before work is accepted. This reduces rework, prevents partially finished work from moving forward, and supports more reliable releases.

A consistent reference point for inspection and adaptation

Because the definition of done applies to every increment, it provides a stable reference point during sprint reviews and retrospectives. Teams can objectively assess whether work met the agreed standard, identify patterns or gaps, and adapt their processes over time, reinforcing the inspect-and-adapt cycle that sits at the heart of both Agile and Scrum.

Wrike’s proofing and approval tools can help you get the product feedback you need, faster. These tools are perfect for reviewing marketing materials, designs, or any other Agile deliverable. They ensure that every task meets your team’s organizational standards, the Scrum way.  

Steps to creating a definition of done

Creating an effective definition of done is a collaborative process that evolves over time. While every team’s DoD will differ based on context, most follow a similar set of steps to ensure clarity, consistency, and quality.

1. Identify project types and contexts
2. Gather stakeholders and agree on quality standards
3. Define clear, measurable completion criteria
4. Test the definition of done against sample backlog items
5. Review and iterate the definition of done in each sprint

1. Identify project types and contexts

Start by considering the kind of work your team delivers, such as software features, marketing assets, or internal process improvements. Different project types may require different quality checks, approvals, or compliance requirements. 

Wrike’s custom views let teams tailor how work is displayed by project type, making it easier to define different definitions of done criteria for software, marketing, or operational work.

2. Gather stakeholders and agree on quality standards

Bring together the Scrum team, product owner, and relevant stakeholders to align on what “done” truly means. This includes technical standards, review processes, and any organizational or regulatory requirements.

Wrike helps teams align stakeholders on quality standards using team collaboration software, so discussions, requirements, and decisions stay centralized and visible before work is considered done.

3. Define clear, measurable completion criteria

Translate expectations into specific, testable criteria. A strong definition of done leaves little room for interpretation and makes it easy to determine whether work is complete.

With Wrike task management, teams can document definition of done criteria directly in tasks using descriptions, custom fields, and checklists to ensure requirements are clear and measurable.

4. Test the definition of done against sample backlog items

Apply the DoD to real or hypothetical product backlog items to ensure it’s practical. This step helps uncover gaps, unrealistic expectations, or missing criteria before the DoD is used in active sprints.

Wrike’s Scrum boards make it easy to apply and validate your definition of done against real backlog items before rolling it out across active sprints.

5. Review and iterate the definition of done in each sprint

The DoD is not static. Teams should revisit and refine it during retrospectives to reflect new insights, improved processes, or changing product and organizational needs.

By following these steps, teams create a definition of done that supports consistent delivery, higher quality outcomes, and continuous improvement.

Teams can use Wrike dashboards during sprint reviews and retrospectives to evaluate how well work met the definition of done and identify areas for improvement.

Definition of done: Agile example

In Agile project management, the definition of done is often employed when Scrum teams are creating a software product. Take the launch of a new mobile app as an example. Here, the definition of done in Agile could incorporate the following deliverables:

• Code has been written
• Code has been reviewed
• Build has been deployed for testing on mobile devices
• Tests have passed
• Google has approved the app for accessibility

Definition of done: Scrum example

Let’s consider a marketing team preparing materials for a new product launch campaign. What does “done” mean for them? Here are some possible deliverables that align with the Scrum guide:

• Creative pitch is reviewed and approved
• Marketing materials are created
• Design is finalized and website is updated
• Customer emails are sent 

This approach ensures that the team consistently delivers high-quality results that align with organizational standards and meet the expectations set by the Scrum master and stakeholders.

Definition of done vs. definition of ready

The definition of done focuses on when work is complete, while the definition of ready ensures the team starts on solid ground. It’s the definition of done but in reverse. Before starting work, the team checks if the task is “ready” to be worked on. 

This is where the user story plays a big role — each task needs to be ready before the team can start working on it. Here are some examples of what “ready” might look like:

• User story is fully detailed, with clear goals and acceptance criteria
• All dependencies are identified and blockers are removed
• Required approvals from stakeholders are in place
• Necessary resources, such as online tools or data, are available
• Tasks are estimated, prioritized, and added to the sprint backlog 

Build your projects in Wrike

Looking to speed up your project execution? Wrike has you covered. It doesn’t matter if you use Scrum or a different Agile project management framework; Wrike can help you manage tasks and conduct sprint reviews all in one place. 

You can use Wrike’s interactive Gantt charts and Kanban boards to plan your sprints and track progress effortlessly. You can drag and drop tasks, set priorities, and ensure everything aligns with your definition of done.

Get your team moving faster and with more clarity. Why wait? Take a tour of Wrike to learn more about Scrum workflows and Agile project management.