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Definition of Done vs. Definition of Ready
The Agile Duo You Can’t Afford to Misunderstand
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In Agile, everyone’s sprinting , until someone trips on a vague user story or stumbles over a feature that “looked done” but wasn’t even half-baked. Clarity is everything. And when it comes to getting work started and finished right, two tools matter more than most: Definition of Ready (DoR) and Definition of Done (DoD).
Used well, they keep your backlog clean, your sprints productive, and your team focused on the right work at the right time. Used poorly — or not at all — and chaos creeps in.
Let’s unpack what they really mean, why they matter, and how to use them like a pro.
🧭 Why DoR and DoD Are Your Agile GPS
Think of your Agile workflow like a road trip. You wouldn’t start without gas in the tank or a map. Likewise, you wouldn’t celebrate your arrival if the wheels fell off halfway there. That’s exactly what DoR and DoD help prevent.
- Definition of Ready makes sure you know where you’re…
