What is the "Definition of Done" in SAFe?

The "Definition of Done" in SAFe represents a shared understanding among team members of what it means for work to be complete. This is crucial for ensuring clarity and alignment within the team. By having a common agreement on the criteria that must be met for a product increment or work item to be considered finished, teams can effectively assess their progress and quality. This collaborative definition helps eliminate ambiguity and provides a framework for consistent delivery, accountability, and quality assurance.

In the context of SAFe, this shared understanding fosters better communication and collaboration among team members, leading to an improved workflow and more reliable outcomes. It supports the principles of transparency and alignment across the Agile Release Train (ART) and helps to ensure that all stakeholders have the same expectations for the completion of work.

Having a strict timeline for project completion, focusing on individual assessments of team members, or merely checking off software functionality does not encapsulate the essence of the "Definition of Done." Instead, it is about the collective commitment to quality and completeness from the entire team.