SCRUM Definition of Done 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes what the Definition of Done ensures about each Increment?
- It will be immediately delivered to end users
- It is potentially releasable at the end of every Sprint (Correct answer)
- It has been formally approved by the Product Owner
- It has passed all user acceptance tests defined by stakeholders
Correct answer: It is potentially releasable at the end of every Sprint
The Definition of Done ensures each Increment is potentially releasable, meaning it could be delivered to stakeholders if the Product Owner chooses to do so.
Question 2: During which Scrum event should the Scrum Team most appropriately review and update the Definition of Done?
- Sprint Planning
- Daily Scrum
- Sprint Retrospective (Correct answer)
- Sprint Review
Correct answer: Sprint Retrospective
The Sprint Retrospective is the dedicated event for the Scrum Team to inspect and adapt its processes, including potentially strengthening the Definition of Done.
Question 3: How does a strong Definition of Done help reduce technical debt?
- By preventing the team from starting new features until old ones are perfect
- By ensuring consistent quality standards are met before work is declared complete (Correct answer)
- By requiring external code reviews from stakeholders outside the team
- By capping the number of items selected for each Sprint
Correct answer: By ensuring consistent quality standards are met before work is declared complete
A robust Definition of Done prevents technical debt by enforcing quality, testing, and integration standards consistently before any work is marked complete.
Question 4: In Scrum, the Definition of Done applies to:
- Only the highest-priority items selected for the Sprint
- All Product Backlog Items selected during Sprint Planning (Correct answer)
- Only the items the Product Owner identifies as critical releases
- Only user stories, not technical or infrastructure tasks
Correct answer: All Product Backlog Items selected during Sprint Planning
The Definition of Done applies uniformly to every Product Backlog Item in the Sprint; there cannot be a different standard for different items.
Question 5: If a Scrum Team realizes mid-Sprint they cannot complete all selected items to the Definition of Done standard, what should they do?
- Temporarily lower the Definition of Done to fit the Sprint
- Release the incomplete items with a disclaimer to meet the deadline
- Negotiate scope adjustments with the Product Owner rather than changing the DoD (Correct answer)
- Cancel the Sprint and begin again with fewer items
Correct answer: Negotiate scope adjustments with the Product Owner rather than changing the DoD
The Definition of Done is non-negotiable; when capacity is insufficient, the team should discuss reducing scope with the Product Owner rather than compromising quality standards.
Question 6: Which statement about the Definition of Done and the Increment is correct?
- Multiple Increments on the same product can have different Definitions of Done
- An Increment is only valid when it meets the Definition of Done (Correct answer)
- The Definition of Done only applies at the end of a full release cycle
- The Product Owner has authority to override the Definition of Done for urgent releases
Correct answer: An Increment is only valid when it meets the Definition of Done
An Increment is only a valid, releasable Increment when it satisfies the Definition of Done; without meeting it, the work is simply unfinished.
Question 7: How does the Definition of Done differ from acceptance criteria in Scrum?
- They are identical concepts used interchangeably in the Scrum Guide
- The Definition of Done is item-specific while acceptance criteria apply globally
- The Definition of Done applies to all Increments while acceptance criteria are specific to individual Product Backlog Items (Correct answer)
- Acceptance criteria replace the Definition of Done once the team is mature
Correct answer: The Definition of Done applies to all Increments while acceptance criteria are specific to individual Product Backlog Items
The Definition of Done is a global quality standard applied to every Increment, while acceptance criteria are item-specific conditions that a particular Product Backlog Item must satisfy.
SCRUM Definition of Done 2
Which of the following best describes what the Definition of Done ensures about each Increment?