What signifies that a team is ready for user acceptance testing?

A team being ready for user acceptance testing (UAT) is fundamentally linked to the concept of the Definition of Done (DoD). The Definition of Done encapsulates the criteria that a product increment must fulfill to be considered complete from various perspectives, including coding, testing, documentation, and other quality assurance aspects.

When an item meets the Definition of Done, it indicates that the team has ensured that all acceptance criteria have been met, all necessary tests have been conducted, and any required documentation is in place. This thorough vetting means that the item is not just functional but also ready for the stakeholders to review, which is the essential purpose of UAT. The intent of UAT is to validate that the product meets the users' needs and expectations, so being aligned with the Definition of Done is crucial.

Passing functional testing, completing all tasks, or having the Product Owner's approval are significant milestones. However, they do not inherently assure that the product increment is ready for UAT unless they are encapsulated within the broader context of meeting the Definition of Done. The DoD serves as the comprehensive benchmark that appropriately signifies readiness for further testing by end users.