What should the Scrum Teams do when they have differing definitions of Done?

When Scrum Teams have differing definitions of Done, the best approach is for them to mutually define their Definition of Done. This collaborative effort is crucial as it ensures that all teams align on the quality and completeness criteria required for their work. A shared Definition of Done fosters consistency across the teams, which is essential for delivering a cohesive product increment that meets the project's quality standards.

Establishing a common understanding encourages better collaboration and communication among the teams, leading to more effective integration of their work. It helps in avoiding confusion and misalignment, particularly when the outputs of one team depend on the outputs of another, which is often the case in Scrum. By engaging all teams in the process of defining this critical element, they create a collective commitment to uphold the same standards, thereby improving overall workflow and delivery quality.

In contrast, working independently without merging results, having one team dictate the terms, or disregarding collaboration altogether would lead to fragmentation and inconsistency, making it difficult to maintain a high-quality product and undermining the benefits of teamwork inherent in Scrum practices.