The Community Blog for Business Analysts

As Business Analysts in Agile teams, we often hear about Definition of Ready (DOR) and Definition of Done (DOD). But beyond the buzzwords, these two concepts are powerful tools to drive clarity, consistency, and quality in our work.

Definition of Ready ensures a user story is truly ready for development. It answers: Is this story clear, feasible, and prioritized? From a BA perspective, this means ensuring the acceptance criteria are defined, dependencies are identified, and stakeholders have aligned on the requirements. DOR is our quality gate before the sprint begins.

Definition of Done, on the other hand, ensures a shared understanding of what “complete” means. It’s not just about coding—it’s about testing, documentation, and meeting all acceptance criteria. For BAs, this includes validating that business rules are implemented correctly and that the feature meets user expectations.

Together, DOR and DOD are more than checklists—they’re alignment tools. They reduce rework, enhance collaboration, and help teams deliver value with confidence.

By actively shaping and reinforcing DOR and DOD, BAs ensure that requirements aren’t just ready and done—but truly valuable.

How clear are your DOR and DOD definitions today?