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Undone work on the increment?

Last post 02:42 pm October 1, 2025 by Jesús Espín López
3 replies
04:04 pm September 28, 2025

Let's take a look to this statement at 3.2. What is “undone” work?

"Work on the Increment that hasn’t achieved the quality standards outlined in the Definition of Done is work that is not yet “done.”"

If there is undone work on the increment that's not an increment. Isn't it? 

I should sugest rewrite it as

"Work on the Sprint that hasn’t achieved the quality standards outlined in the Definition of Done is work that is not yet “done.”"


02:06 pm September 29, 2025

The Sprint is only a container. Work cannot be done on or to the Sprint.

When working, the team modifies a previous Increment to make changes. A potential Increment remains in an undone state. When a Product Backlog Item meets the Definition of Done, a new Increment is created, which can potentially be delivered to stakeholders for use.


04:11 pm September 29, 2025

If there is undone work on the increment that's not an increment. Isn't it? 

The Definition of Done is a commitment associated with the Increment. If work has been undertaken on the Increment and the commitment not yet satisfied, the outstanding work ought to be accounted for on the Product Backlog.

The Sprint that contributed to the deficit is irrelevant. It might have been the current one, or a previous one, or a Sprint conducted at some point by another team.


09:58 am October 1, 2025

Thanks guys.

So, let's say that if we have work completed that meets DoD standards, then we have a new increment, regardless of whether it constitutes all or part of a PBI selected for the sprint or SBI.


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