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Writing user stories is a frequent activity for many PMs, and knowing how to write them well makes a difference in your team's deliveries! In this article, we introduce a principle to guide you in writing better user stories for your team: INVEST!
Who hasn't struggled to explain why a certain activity delivers value? Or heard in a daily stand-up that a developer is blocked due to another task? Had no idea when the story would end because the team couldn't estimate? Saw a story drag on for days because it was too large? Or found that something was ready but couldn't be tested?
The INVEST principle helps you avoid all these scenarios. Created by Bill Wake in an article about Extreme Programming (XP), it can be applied to agile methodologies as a whole. The acronym stands for:
I - Independent: Each user story should be independent, allowing the team to develop them in parallel without dependencies.
N - Negotiable: Stories should be negotiable and open to changes during refinement with the team, balancing value and complexity.
V - Valuable: Each story should add direct value to the customer or end-user. If not, it shouldn’t be developed. The value must be clear in the story and to the team.
E - Estimable: Stories should be well-understood enough for the team to estimate the effort required to implement them. Even if the estimate isn't exact, it's important to have a general idea of the time needed.
S - Small: Each story should be small enough to be completed in a short time, typically within a single sprint. If a story takes longer, it's a sign it should be divided.
T - Testable: Stories should be testable, with clear acceptance criteria that allow the team to determine when the story is fully implemented, avoiding rework due to quality issues.
Remember, you might not always be able to fully apply the INVEST principle. Your way of working, including writing stories, will depend on the team's maturity in agile methodologies. If you're far from achieving INVEST, it doesn't mean your stories are bad, but using this principle will help you continuously improve the quality of your deliveries and the impact they create.
Stay tuned to our blog for more insights on product management and agile practices!
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