Definition of Ready for a User Story (backlog item)

The user value of the story is clearly indicated.

The acceptance criteria or deliverables for user story have been clearly described and written in a testable format.

All dependencies (technical, business, external) are identified and resolved or planned.

No hidden work – backend, infrastructure, or research needs are identified upfront.

UI/UX designs and assets are attached, if applicable.

The story is estimated by the delivery team and is small enough to fit into a single sprint (or broken down if necessary).

The story is testable, with defined expected results and test data where needed.

Performance, security, and other non-functional (e.g., security, compliance, and scalability) requirements are considered.

The person who will accept the story (PO/stakeholders) is identified.

The team knows how to demo the story in Sprint Review.