What can happen if a Development Team lacks a consistent definition of done?

When a Development Team lacks a consistent definition of done, the most significant consequence is that the team may not fully understand the effort needed to complete their work. A definition of done provides clarity and a shared understanding of what it means for work to be considered complete. Without it, team members might have different interpretations of what "done" entails, leading to inconsistencies in work quality and completion.

This variation can create challenges in estimating and planning work, as team members may not all be aligned on the criteria that need to be met to consider a task finished. Consequently, this ambiguity can lead to unforeseen rework, missed deadlines, or incomplete deliverables, as the team might waste time on elements they don't recognize as necessary for completion. Thus, lacking a consistent definition of done hampers the team's ability to accurately assess the effort required to deliver on the Product Backlog items effectively.