Imagine a kitchen in chaos. Orders are shouted, chefs scramble to grab random tasks, and no one has time to stop or plan. Amid this whirlwind, the ma

Scrum’s Definition of Done Is Polishing Plates in a Burning Kitchen

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2024-11-21 11:30:03

Imagine a kitchen in chaos. Orders are shouted, chefs scramble to grab random tasks, and no one has time to stop or plan. Amid this whirlwind, the maître d’ stands at the door with a clipboard, refusing to let any dish go out unless it meets an impossible checklist of perfection. It doesn’t matter that the stove is broken or the knives are dull—the dishes must be flawless.

This is Scrum’s Definition of Done in a nutshell: instead of addressing the chaos of the process, it places all responsibility for quality on the developers. Rather than fixing systemic issues like unrealistic deadlines or poor collaboration, the Definition of Done simply demands that teams deliver perfection, no matter the odds.

The Definition of Done bills itself as a tool for good—an agreement among the team to ensure consistent, high-quality work. It’s a checklist of “best practices”: code must be tested, reviewed, documented, and meet all acceptance criteria before it’s shipped.

In theory, this sounds reasonable. But in reality, the Definition of Done doesn’t fix the broken kitchen—it just adds pressure. Scrum’s relentless sprints, rushed planning, and chaotic workflows create an environment where perfection is impossible. The DoD isn’t solving these problems; it’s just pretending they don’t exist. Ultimately, the DoD is merely a get-out-of-jail-free card. When someone questions why the team is producing subpar work, the Scrum Master can deflect: “Well, there’s a DoD in place. Nothing should be submitted that doesn’t meet that definition.” The implication? Nothing is wrong with the holy process—of course not. The fault must lie elsewhere. 1

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