Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum FrameworkMedium
A Scrum Team's Definition of Done states that 'all code must be peer-reviewed.' However, due to time pressure towards the end of the Sprint, Developers sometimes skip peer reviews for minor code changes. What is the primary risk associated with this practice?
- AThe Product Owner might reject the Increment at the Sprint Review.
- BThe Increment may not be truly 'Done' and could introduce technical debt or quality issues.
- CThe Developers might lose trust in the Definition of Done as a guiding principle.
- DThe Scrum Master might be unable to accurately report Sprint progress.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. The Increment may not be truly 'Done' and could introduce technical debt or quality issues.
The Definition of Done creates a shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete on the Product Increment. If elements of the DoD are skipped, the Increment is not truly 'Done,' meaning it might not be of releasable quality, potentially introducing bugs, technical debt, or other quality issues.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The Product Owner judges value, but the Definition of Done is about quality. A PO might accept a feature even if it has quality issues, but the risk to the product remains.
- C. While trust in the DoD might erode over time, the immediate and most significant risk is to the product's quality and integrity.
- D. While progress reporting might be affected, the primary risk is to the quality of the product itself.
Definition of Done Purpose
The Definition of Done is a formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets the quality measures required for the product. It creates transparency by providing a shared understanding of what work was completed as part of the Increment.
- Creates a shared understanding of quality.
- Ensures the Increment is usable and potentially releasable.
- Is a commitment by the Scrum Team.
- Increases transparency and reduces ambiguity.
Memory trick: Skipping DoD is like leaving a door unlocked; it invites trouble.