Just as the Definition of Done (DoD) helps you establish a clear baseline for quality, the Definition of Ready (DoR) provides guidance on when you can pick up a backlog item. At Spark Academy, we've observed that a team using a good Definition of Ready wastes less time on ambiguities and avoids surprises halfway through the Sprint.
The Definition of Ready is a set of criteria that an item on the Product Backlog must meet before the team starts working on it. Is there enough information? Are the acceptance criteria clear? Are dependencies articulated? If these points are not clear, you run the risk of having to resolve ambiguities or make adjustments during the Sprint.
You can think of it like following a recipe when cooking: you gather all necessary ingredients and tools beforehand, understand the step-by-step plan, and know exactly when to perform each step.
If a backlog item still has too many unanswered questions or is insufficiently detailed, this causes delays in your Sprint and prevents the team from performing optimally. A clear Definition of Ready helps you prevent this:
In many cases, the Product Owner and Development Team collaborate to define the DoR. This might include criteria such as:
These criteria may vary per organization or even per team, but ensure they are concrete and measurable, just like with the Definition of Done.
The Scrum Master ensures that sufficient attention is given to refining and establishing the Definition of Ready. The Development Team indicates what they need to execute an item. The Product Owner ensures these needs are met, for example, by providing additional information or documents. Together, you keep the flow in your Sprint process smooth.
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