Definition of Workflow (DoW): Making Work Explicit to Drive Continuous Improvement

In Kanban, the Definition of Workflow (DoW) is not a static checklist. It is a dynamic model of how work flows through a value stream, and how progress is made visible. The Kanban Guide defines it as the explicit agreements and policies that guide how work is selected, started, progressed, and completed.

It includes:

• Entry criteria: What makes work ready to enter the system.
• WIP limits: How much can be in progress at once.
• Exit policies: What constitutes ‘done’ for each state.

It’s how you define “what we mean when we say we’re doing the work.”

This isn’t about micromanagement. It’s about making the system legible, so we can improve it. Kanban treats workflow as something we inspect and evolve. Not define once and forget.

The implications of a Definition of Workflow in Scrum

Scrum doesn’t explicitly define a “Definition of Workflow,” but it does have a Definition of Done (DoD) and expects teams to visualise their work.