TechFAR: Definition of Done

[dcpatton]

There still seems to be confusion about what this is and how it should be used. The Definition of Done should not be defined in the PWS. It can not be specified upfront. It will evolve as the team works. It is a checklist of what the team must complete do for every user story in the product backlog. The government (Product Owner) does provide input to it. Generally this involves the PO stating a requirement (e.g. user story must be Section 508 compliant) and the team then adding checklist items to the Definition of Done which are necessary to meet that criteria for every user story. In the retrospectives they may decide that adjustments are necessary to the Definition of Done. Thus, the Definition of Done is the team's to own and define. It can not be stated in the PWS. Perhaps it can be stated in the PWS that a Definition of Done will be required and approved by the government's Product Owner.