When is the work ‘done’?
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It seems like a silly question, but it is one that nags freelancers as they hover over the ‘submit’ button on their latest project.?
Of course, the work is done. But is it?done? What will the client think? Will the work meet their expectations, or have these expectations changed during the project? Will the client like what has been produced, or will they have comments and require amendments? And if so, when will they want them by, and can the bill still be submitted? Also, do these amendments constitute part of this job or a completely new one? Oh, and can the time that was spent spend adding in that extra feature because it seemed like the right thing to do be billed? And, and, and….
So ‘done’ isn't so simple after all.?
At elements.biz, our work management system makes ‘done’ a whole load easier to define. It starts with a clear description of the work that creates a?brief?for you and creates a shared space online where users can log time, alter deadlines, communicate, and share information with your client/freelancer [delete as applicable!].?
As the project evolves, so does the brief, recording modifications (and who made them) in the shared space to ensure perfect visibility for all concerned and seamless collaboration between the client’s internal teams and their freelance support.?
So when the work is done, it’s done, and everybody is clear.?
For more on the brief,?see this post.
To join elements.biz as a client or freelancer, find out more about the elements.biz community.
You are right, DoD is key! Work done for a developer is not the same definition for a QA, or the Product Owner. Traditionally, I initiate a project with a charter, and in that charter there is the Definition of Done. QA done should obviously be part of it, and presence of documentation is maybe depending on the project. To go back to the fundamentals of agile, a story is done when business value is delivered to the client. That can help define the DoD ...