What is the outcome when a team achieves a collective understanding of "Done"?

When a team achieves a collective understanding of "Done," the outcome is improved team communication and efficiency. This shared understanding ensures that all team members are aligned on what it means to complete work, which fosters clearer communication regarding expectations, progress, and project goals.

Having a common definition of "Done" helps the team coordinate their efforts more effectively, as everyone knows the criteria that must be met before a backlog item can be considered complete. This alignment minimizes misunderstandings and reduces the likelihood of rework, thereby enhancing overall efficiency. When team members have clarity about the completion standards, they can also better support each other and work collaboratively towards meeting those standards, ultimately leading to more successful outcomes and timely delivery of increments.

Other options, while they may have some correlation to improved communication, do not directly result from a collective understanding of "Done" in the same impactful way. For instance, while less time spent on documentation and reduced meeting times can be beneficial, they are not guaranteed outcomes of a shared understanding of completion criteria. Similarly, while higher individual accountability may be influenced by team dynamics, the primary focus of achieving a collective understanding centers on enhancing team cohesion and workflow efficiency.