What does 'done' mean in German engineering culture?

When your German manager says a task is not done, they usually mean it is not yet flawless, not that you personally did not try hard enough. In Germany, done means fully verified, fully documented, and built to survive years of real use, with no quick patches left behind. Understanding this standard early will save you a lot of confusion during your first few sprints.

Silicon Valley Done vs German Done

The Core Principles You Need to Internalise

• Thoroughness beats speed, so a rushed deadline is never an excuse for cutting corners.
• Quick fixes and temporary patches are unacceptable, your solution must be permanent.
• Every test, decision, and process needs to be recorded in writing, not just remembered.
• Your work must align with recognised standards, such as DIN formats, wherever they apply.

My Advice

Before you mark any ticket as done on a German team, ask yourself whether it would survive an audit six months from now, not just whether it passed today's test. If you are new to this culture, write a short Definition of Done with your team lead in your first week, it will save you from repeated pushback later.