Understanding Definition of Ready in Agile: A Complete Guide
In Scrum and Agile practices, teams often talk about the Definition of Done (DoD), but there’s another important concept: the Definition of Ready (DoR). While the DoD ensures work is completed to a certain quality, the DoR determines whether a user story or product backlog item is ready to enter a sprint.
Think of the Definition of Ready as a bouncer standing at the door of the iteration. Just like a nightclub bouncer only lets in people who meet certain standards, young, trendy, stylishly dressed, the DoR ensures only backlog items that meet specific conditions are allowed into a sprint. But unlike nightclubs that have universal entry rules, each Scrum team or organization can define its own DoR. There’s no one-size-fits-all. The key is to create guidelines that help teams move forward smoothly, without turning Agile into a rigid process.
What Does Definition of Ready Mean?
The Definition of Ready (DoR) is a checklist or set of criteria that determines if a user story is clear, small, and well-prepared enough to be worked on during a sprint. For example, a DoR may require that:
- Acceptance criteria are clearly written.
- The story is small enough to be completed within a sprint.
- Dependencies on external teams or vendors are resolved.
- Basic designs or mockups are available for UI-related work.
By ensuring these conditions are met, teams reduce the risk of sprint failure caused by unclear or oversized stories. Example: A Team’s Definition of Ready
Every team has different needs, but here are some common DoR rules:
- Clear acceptance criteria: The story’s success conditions are well-defined.
- Estimated size: The story has been estimated and fits within the sprint capacity (often half the team’s velocity).
- Design preparedness: Initial mockups or design ideas are available.
- Dependencies cleared: No external blockers from other teams or vendors.
This way, teams avoid pulling in stories that are too vague, too large, or too dependent on outside factors.
Why Use a Definition of Ready?
A well-defined DoR helps prevent common problems:
- Avoiding oversized stories: By restricting the size, teams ensure work is deliverable within one sprint.
- Reducing dependency risks: Stories with unresolved external dependencies often derail sprints.
- Better sprint planning: Teams have clarity and confidence in the stories they commit to.
For example, if your team has repeatedly faced delays due to another department not delivering on time, you might add a DoR rule stating that no story with an unresolved dependency on that
Risks of a Strict Definition of Ready
While DoR can be helpful, it can also cause problems if applied too rigidly. If rules demand that tasks must be 100% complete before entering a sprint, it can unintentionally push the team toward a stage-gate process, similar to the old waterfall method.
In a stage-gate process, one phase (like design) must be fully finished before the next (like coding) begins. This eliminates the concurrent engineering that Agile encourages, where teams overlap work such as analysis, coding, and testing to deliver value faster. Agile thrives on flexibility. If a team insists on fully polished designs before coding begins, they lose the advantage of adapting as they go.
Using Definition of Ready the Right Way
The key to using a DoR effectively is to treat it as a guideline, not a rigid rulebook. For example: Instead of saying “All UI mockups must be fully designed before development begins,” you could write:
“If the story requires new UI screens, rough mockups should be started and detailed enough for the team to refine during the sprint.”
This way, work can overlap, and the team remains Agile. The guideline ensures readiness but leaves room for flexibility and collaboration.
Should Every Team Use a Definition of Ready?
Not always. Many Agile experts argue that DoR often adds unnecessary process overhead. If your team works smoothly without one, you may not need it. However, for teams struggling with oversized stories, unclear requirements, or dependency delays, a light and flexible DoR can help.
The ultimate goal is to balance preparation with agility. Use a DoR when it prevents chaos, but avoid turning it into a waterfall-style checklist.
The Definition of Ready is a helpful tool for some Agile teams, acting like a bouncer that ensures only well-prepared backlog items enter a sprint. But if treated too strictly, it risks pushing teams back into rigid stage-gate methods that kill agility.
The best approach is to keep your DoR light, flexible, and adaptable. Focus on guidelines that encourage clarity and reduce risks without blocking agility.
At HelloSM, we emphasize practical Agile practices that teams can adapt to their unique context. As a leading Scrum training institute in Hyderabad and one of the top training institutes in India, we guide professionals to apply Agile in real-world situations effectively. Understanding tools like the Definition of Ready is just one part of building stronger, more successful Scrum teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Definition of Ready and Definition of Done?
The Definition of Ready (DoR) ensures a backlog item is clear and prepared enough to enter a sprint. The Definition of Done (DoD) ensures that once work is completed, it meets all quality standards.
Should every Agile team use a Definition of Ready?
Not necessarily. Teams that already handle clear, small, and dependency-free stories may not need one. However, teams facing recurring planning issues may benefit from adopting a light DoR.
Can a strict Definition of Ready harm agility?
Yes. If DoR rules demand 100% completion of certain activities before others start, it can create a stage-gate (waterfall-like) process. To stay Agile, DoR should be treated as a guideline, not a strict rulebook.