Definition of Done (DoD)
Where DoR defines when we start, DoD defines when we are truly finished. It is the exit contract for the work.
The Anti-Pattern: DoD is not "it works on my machine" or "the stakeholder stopped shouting."
The Exit Criteria
DoD is met when:
- Scope Completed: We built exactly what was in the Charter/Card.
- Ownership Transferred: Named owners accept the outcome.
- Boundaries Respected: No new technical debt accepted without sign-off.
- Success Observable: Metrics, events, or behaviors prove value.
- Operational Artifacts: Runbooks, alerts, and docs are live.
DoD prevents "permanent beta" work that never really lands. It protects the team from being haunted by zombie projects.