How do you review and validate user story acceptance criteria and definition of done before sprint execution?

1 What are acceptance criteria and definition of done?

Acceptance criteria are the specific conditions that a user story must meet to be considered done and acceptable by the product owner and the stakeholders. They are usually written as a list of statements or scenarios that describe the expected functionality, behavior, and performance of the user story. Definition of done is a shared agreement among the team members on what constitutes a finished user story, including the technical, functional, and non-functional aspects, such as coding standards, testing, documentation, and deployment. Both acceptance criteria and definition of done are essential for ensuring that the team delivers value to the customer and meets the quality standards.

3 How to review and validate them before sprint execution?

In order to review and validate the acceptance criteria and the definition of done before sprint execution, one should involve the product owner, developers, and testers in the process, as they can provide different perspectives and insights. Utilizing a checklist or template is essential to guarantee that the criteria and definition are clear, concise, testable, measurable, realistic, and relevant to the user story. Examples, scenarios, or mockups are beneficial for illustrating the criteria and definition of done, and for verifying that they meet the user's needs. Additionally, brainstorming, prototyping, or user feedback can be utilized to generate and validate new ideas or alternatives for the acceptance criteria and definition of done. Finally, tools such as Jira, Trello, or Confluence can be used to document and track the criteria and definition of done, as well as communicate with team members.

5 How to measure and improve your performance?

Reviewing and validating the acceptance criteria and the definition of done before sprint execution is not only a quality assurance activity, but also a learning and improvement opportunity for the team. To measure and improve your performance, you can collect and analyze data on the number, type, and severity of defects, issues, or feedback related to the acceptance criteria and the definition of done during sprint execution. Additionally, conducting retrospectives at the end of each sprint can help identify what went well and what can be improved. Furthermore, setting SMART goals and action plans for improving your skills and processes can be beneficial. Lastly, seeking feedback and coaching from peers, mentors, or experts can assist in reviewing and validating the acceptance criteria and the definition of done before sprint execution more effectively.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?