Definition of Ready (with Downloadable Templates) | Vit Lyoshin (2024)

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What is the Definition of Ready?

The Definition of Ready (DoR) is a set of criteria or guidelines used in Agile software development methodologies, particularly in Scrum. It is collaboratively established by the product owner and the development team. The purpose of DoR is to ensure that a user story is ready to be taken up by the development team for implementation during a sprint. It serves as a checklist to ensure that the necessary information and conditions are in place to work on the item effectively. By having a shared understanding of what constitutes a "ready" user story, the team can ensure smoother sprint planning, minimize interruptions during development, and improve overall productivity and collaboration .

Definition of Ready Examples

The article provides examples of readiness criteria that can be included in a Definition of Ready checklist. Here are some examples:

1. User Story Clarity:

   • Is the user story clear, concise, and unambiguous?
   • Does it include a clear description of the desired functionality or outcome?
   • Does it follow the Who, What, Why format?

2. Acceptance Criteria:

   • Have the acceptance criteria been defined and documented?
   • Do the acceptance criteria cover all key aspects and functionalities of the user story?
   • Are the acceptance criteria measurable and testable?

3. Dependencies and Prerequisites:

   • Are all necessary dependencies identified and addressed?
   • Are any external services, APIs, or components required for development available and accessible?
   • Are there any specific prerequisites or conditions that must be met before work can begin?

4. Stakeholder Alignment:

   • Have the stakeholders provided input and agreed upon the user story and its requirements?
   • Is there a shared understanding of the expected outcome between the product owner, development team, and stakeholders?

5. Design and Mockups:

   • Have design specifications, wireframes, or mockups been provided, if applicable?
   • Are the design elements aligned with the desired outcome and stakeholder expectations?
   • Do the design specifications address any specific UI/UX requirements?

6. Story Sizing and Effort Estimation:

   • Has the user story been appropriately sized and estimated in terms of effort?
   • Does the development team clearly understand the level of effort required?
   • Are any potential risks or challenges associated with the user story considered in the estimation?

These are just a few examples, and the checklist can be adapted and customized to suit the specific needs and requirements of an Agile team .

INVEST Examples

The article also mentions the use of the INVEST acronym as a structure for the Definition of Ready. Each letter in INVEST represents a readiness criterion. Here's an example of how the INVEST criteria can be applied:

1. I - Independent:

   • Can the user story be worked on and completed without relying on other stories?
   • If there are dependencies, are they separated and refined?
   • Can the team complete this work without relying on other teams?

2. N - Negotiable:

   • Was the story discussed, and does the team fully understand what needs to be done?
   • Are the acceptance criteria defined?
   • Is there a high-level technical solution in place, and can the team start working on the story?

3. V - Valuable:

   • Does the user story provide value to the end-users or stakeholders?
   • Does it align with the project goals and objectives?
   • Does it follow the Who, What, Why format?

4. E - Estimable:

   • Can the development team estimate the effort and complexity of the user story?
   • Are the requirements and acceptance criteria clear enough to allow for accurate estimation?

5. S - Small:

   • Is the user story small enough to be completed within a single iteration or sprint?

6. T - Testable:

   • Can the user story be tested to ensure that the desired outcome or functionality is achieved?
   • Are the acceptance criteria well-defined and specific enough to guide the testing process?

By using the INVEST criteria as a foundation for the Definition of Ready, teams can ensure that user stories are well-prepared, independent, valuable, estimable, small, and testable .

Downloadable DoR Templates

The article mentions the availability of downloadable Definition of Ready templates. These templates can be used as a starting point for creating a Definition of Ready checklist tailored to an Agile team's specific needs and requirements. The templates mentioned in the article include:

• DoR Excel Template
• DoR Word Template
• DoR INVEST Excel Template
• DoR INVEST Word Template

These templates can be downloaded and customized to suit the team's preferences and processes.

Definition of Ready Best Practices

The article provides some general best practices for creating and using a Definition of Ready. These best practices include:

1. Collaborative Definition:

   • Involve both the product owner and the development team in defining the criteria for readiness to ensure a shared understanding and alignment.

2. Clearly Communicate DoR Criteria:

   • Document the DoR criteria in a clear and easily accessible format, such as a checklist or a shared document, to ensure that everyone on the team understands the expectations for a user story to be considered "ready."

3. Tailor DoR to the Team:

   • Adapt the DoR criteria to fit the team and project's specific needs and context, considering factors such as team maturity, domain complexity, and technological considerations.

4. Continuously Refine DoR:

   • Regularly review and refine the DoR criteria based on feedback from the team's experiences, adding or modifying criteria to improve the effectiveness of the readiness assessment.

5. Involve QA and Testing:

   • Include quality assurance (QA) and testing team members in defining the DoR criteria to ensure that all necessary testing considerations are included in the readiness assessment.

6. Early Engagement of the Development Team:

   • Encourage the development team's active involvement in grooming and refining user stories before they are added to the backlog to identify and address any gaps or uncertainties early on.

7. Balance Flexibility and Clarity:

   • Provide clear guidelines for readiness without being overly prescriptive, allowing some flexibility to accommodate unique situations while maintaining clarity and consistency.

8. Educate Stakeholders:

   • Educate stakeholders, including the product owner and other team members, on the importance and purpose of the DoR to foster a culture where everyone understands and values the concept of readiness.

9. Regularly Review and Assess:

   • During backlog refinement sessions or sprint planning meetings, review user stories against the DoR criteria, assess readiness collaboratively and transparently, and make any necessary adjustments or clarifications.

10. Continuous Improvement:

    • Treat the DoR as an evolving tool and continuously seek ways to improve it, encouraging feedback from the team and being open to refining the criteria based on lessons learned and changing project dynamics .

These best practices can help teams effectively create and use a Definition of Ready to enhance their Agile development processes.

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