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6.4.1 - Example of a Product Backlog Item (User Story)

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Understanding User Stories

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Teacher
Teacher

Today, we're diving into the concept of user stories. To start, can anyone tell me why user stories are important in Agile?

Student 1
Student 1

Is it because they help define what the user needs?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly, Student_1! User stories articulate the needs from the user's perspective. This focuses the development on delivering value. They help us understand 'what' we need to build.

Student 2
Student 2

How do we typically structure a user story?

Teacher
Teacher

Great question! User stories usually follow this format: *As a [type of user], I want [an action] so that [a benefit].* This helps clarify the user’s motivation. Can anyone come up with an example?

Student 3
Student 3

Maybe, 'As a customer, I want to view my order history so that I can track my purchases'?

Teacher
Teacher

Perfect! Remember the structure as you create more user stories. It's fundamental in Agile!

Components of User Stories

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Teacher
Teacher

Now, let's discuss the critical components of a good user story. Who can tell me what else we should include along with the user story?

Student 4
Student 4

Acceptance criteria?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly, Student_4! Acceptance criteria are crucial as they outline the conditions that must be met for the story to be complete. They ensure clarity and avoid misunderstandings.

Student 1
Student 1

Can you give us an example?

Teacher
Teacher

Certainly! Let's take the user story: 'As a registered user, I want to reset my password using email so that I can regain account access.' What might be some acceptance criteria for this?

Student 2
Student 2

The reset link should be sent to the registered email?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! And how about additional criteria?

Student 3
Student 3

It should expire after 24 hours and we should verify the user’s identity.

Teacher
Teacher

Great job, everyone! These criteria define what needs to happen for the story to qualify as complete.

Writing Effective User Stories

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Teacher
Teacher

Let’s talk about writing effective user stories. What do you think makes a user story effective?

Student 2
Student 2

It should be clear and concise?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly right! Clarity is key. They should also be simple and focused. Remember the acronym 'INVEST', which stands for Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, and Testable. Can anyone elaborate on one of those points?

Student 4
Student 4

I think 'Valuable' means it must deliver value to the user?

Teacher
Teacher

Spot on! If a user story doesn’t provide value, it’s not worth building. Always keep the user’s needs in mind as you write. Let’s make sure we practice this!

Introduction & Overview

Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.

Quick Overview

This section describes how to write a user story, an essential component of the Agile process.

Standard

The section outlines what a user story is, its components, and provides an example to illustrate how it’s constructed, emphasizing the importance of acceptance criteria in defining user needs.

Detailed

Detailed Summary

In Agile methodologies, a user story is a short, simple description of a feature told from the perspective of the person who desires the new capability, usually a user or customer of the system. The primary purpose of a user story is to articulate how a piece of work will deliver a particular value back to the end user. User stories typically follow the structure: As a [type of user], I want [an action] so that [a benefit/a value].

A well-defined user story should also include acceptance criteria that delineate the conditions needed for it to be considered complete. For example, a user story like: “As a registered user, I want to reset my password using email so that I can regain account access.” includes acceptance criteria such as:
- Reset link is sent to the registered email
- Link expires in 24 hours
- Must verify user identity before resetting

These criteria help the development team understand the expectations and requirements more clearly, ensuring that the final product aligns with user needs.

Audio Book

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User Story Example

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As a registered user, I want to reset my password using email so that I can regain account access.

Detailed Explanation

This user story is written from the perspective of the end user, who is a registered user of an application. It clearly states the functionality that the user desires, which is the ability to reset their password via email. This format is essential in Agile as it keeps the focus on user needs and ensures that the development team understands who the end user is and what they are trying to achieve.

Examples & Analogies

Think of it like asking a waiter for a specific dish at a restaurant. Instead of just saying 'I want food', the user provides specifics: 'I want a vegetarian burger with no cheese.' This helps the kitchen understand exactly what to prepare, similar to how the user story communicates the user's exact requirement.

Acceptance Criteria

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With Acceptance Criteria:
● Reset link is sent to the registered email
● Link expires in 24 hours
● Must verify user identity before resetting

Detailed Explanation

The acceptance criteria provide specific conditions that need to be met for the user story to be considered complete. Each bullet point outlines a requirement that must be fulfilled:
1. The user must receive a reset link in their registered email.
2. The reset link must expire after 24 hours to enhance security.
3. The system must verify the user’s identity before allowing a password reset, ensuring that unauthorized users cannot gain access. This clarity helps the development team know when the user story is finished.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine planning a surprise party. The acceptance criteria would be like checking off items from a checklist: 'Have food ready,' 'Invite guests,' and 'Decorate the space.' Only when all these items are checked off can you be confident the party is ready, just like how developers know they have completed a user story.

Definitions & Key Concepts

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Key Concepts

  • User Story: A feature description from the user's perspective.

  • Acceptance Criteria: Conditions that a user story must meet for completion.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • Example of a user story: 'As a registered user, I want to reset my password using email so that I can regain account access.'

  • Acceptance criteria for the above user story could include: the link is sent to the registered email, expires in 24 hours, and identity verification is required.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • For user stories, keep it neat,

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • A user logged in, feeling quite tense, needed to reset their password, intense! With the email in hand, they clicked a link, now back to their account, they could finally think!

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember 'ACE' for Acceptance Criteria: Achievable, Clear, and Essential.

🎯 Super Acronyms

Use 'UVP' for User Value Proposition to remember the focus of user stories.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

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  • Term: User Story

    Definition:

    A concise description of a feature from the user's perspective, typically structured as 'As a [user], I want [action] so that [benefit]'.

  • Term: Acceptance Criteria

    Definition:

    Set conditions that a user story must satisfy to be considered complete, defining how to validate its functionality.