Founder takeaway
A Definition of Done becomes operational only when it is explicit, embedded in the team’s workflow, and easy to follow. Use transition checks to prevent incomplete work from advancing, but weigh each automation step against the friction it adds.
Why it matters
Consistent completion criteria reduce rework, quality drift, and disagreements about whether work is truly finished. If enforcement is cumbersome, however, teams may bypass the process or treat it as bureaucracy.
Put it to work
Review one common Jira transition: What minimum evidence should be required before work advances, and can that check be enforced without adding unnecessary steps?