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Definition of Ready

A checklist of conditions that each user story in the prioritized product backlog must meet before the team will estimate it or pull it into a sprint. It serves as an entry gate to sprint planning and places responsibility on the Product Owner to provide clear, complete, and feasible requirements for every story.

Key Points

  • A story must meet agreed criteria before estimation and sprint selection.
  • Applies to every backlog item, keeping quality and clarity consistent.
  • Acts as a gate: items that do not meet it return to refinement.
  • Product Owner is accountable for clarity; the team collaborates to define the checklist (e.g., acceptance criteria, size, dependencies, testability).

Example

During backlog refinement, the team reviews a story to add a new payment method. It lacks acceptance criteria and has an unresolved dependency on a third-party API. Because it does not meet the Definition of Ready, the team defers estimation and sprint inclusion. The Product Owner adds acceptance criteria, confirms the API contract, and splits the work into smaller, testable slices. At the next session, the story meets the Definition of Ready and is estimated and scheduled.

PMP Example Question

What is the primary purpose of the Definition of Ready in Agile teams?

  1. To ensure backlog items are clear and feasible before estimation and sprint planning.
  2. To define all testing activities completed at the end of a sprint.
  3. To set the team's maximum work-in-progress limits during development.
  4. To document the release plan and roadmap for the product.

Correct Answer: A — Ensure items are ready for estimation and sprint inclusion

Explanation: The Definition of Ready is a precondition checklist that confirms a story is sufficiently clear, small, and testable so it can be estimated and selected for a sprint.

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