The Word "Done" Is a Contract: How Completion Definitions Shape Business Outcomes

"Done" sounds like a simple status, but it is often an unspoken contract between business and IT. For a business stakeholder, done may mean a customer can complete a task, a deadline can be reported, or a process can move forward. For IT, it may mean the code works, tests pass, security checks are complete, documentation exists, and support can take responsibility. When those meanings diverge, projects appear successful while creating manual work, hidden risk, or an uncomfortable discovery after launch. This episode examines how completion criteria quietly shape budgets, accountability, customer experience, and trust. Mirko Peters will show why definitions of done are not administrative project language but a practical form of business governance. The discussion offers a simple way to distinguish technical completion, operational readiness, and business value, using a generalized consulting example to make the consequences tangible. Listeners will leave with questions they can use before approving the next milestone.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/business-it-it-business--6867401/support.To continue the conversation, follow Mirko Peters on LinkedIn, where more insights and real-world examples are shared from both business and IT perspectives.