the story of user stories
TRANSCRIPT
The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2015 1
Robbie Mac Iver, Agile Consultant & Coach
There's no sense in being precise when you don't even know what you're talking about
-- John von Neumann
The Story of User Stories
The Mac Iver Group, LP © 2005-2015 2
Why User Stories? User Story Basics Some Practice Next Steps
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Why User Stories? User Story Basics Some Practice Next Steps
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The Agile Approach
Make Good Decisions About What Work to DoAnd what work NOT to do
Effectively Deliver That WorkPredictable visible progress
Deliver Value Very FrequentlyHelp the business today
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Why User Stories?
As a <Role> I want
to <perform a
function> so that
<some value> Requirements
=
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A Not So Hypothetical Project Roadmap
Construct Customizations
Setup Search Dev Environment
Acquire Content
Create Data Warehouse
Construct UI
Validate Content
Create Test Cases
Move/Upgrade Servers
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A Not So Hypothetical Project Roadmap
Construct Customizations
Setup Search Dev Environment
Acquire Content
Create Data Warehouse
Construct UI
Validate Content
Create Test Cases
Move/Upgrade Servers
What’s
The
Business
Value???
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It’s All Too Common
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Why User Stories?
As a <Role> I want
to <perform a
function> so that
<some value>
=
Business Outcomes
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The Rush to a Product Backlog
What Do We Need To
Accomplish?
Product Backlog
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The Rush to a Product Backlog
What Do We Need To
Accomplish?
Product Backlog
85 percent of working adults cannot tell you their organization’s
most important goals
The 4 Disciplines of Execution- McChesney, Covey, Huling
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The Process is Important
What Do We Need To
Accomplish?
Where Are We Going?
Vision/Strategy
How Do We Get There?
Roadmap Product Backlog
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Provide a Clear Vision
Provide Clarity of Purpose Refined for Current Business
Conditions What’s the impact? What’s our objective? What’s our approach?
Communicated Clearly Broadly & often
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Provide a Clear Vision
Provide Clarity of Purpose Refined for Current Business
Conditions What’s the impact? What’s our objective? What’s our approach?
Communicated Clearly Broadly & often
As a <Role> I want
to <perform a
function> so that
<some value>
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Product Roadmaps
What Business Problem(s) are We Solving?
When? What Are the
Incremental Steps?
Organize Along the Value Stream
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Sample RoadmapE
nable Change M
anagement
Asset Group A
Manage Infrastructure Assets
Asset Group B
Asset Group C
Manage Applications
Manage Topology
Toda
y
March
2014
May 20
14
July 2014
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Sample RoadmapE
nable Change M
anagement
Asset Group A
Manage Infrastructure Assets
Asset Group B
Asset Group C
Manage Applications
Manage Topology
Toda
y
March
2014
May 20
14
July 2014
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>As a <Role> I
want to <perform
a function> so
that <some
value>
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Impactful Releases
Make a Difference Today Focused Specific
Capability or Audience Significant Step To Overall
Vision
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Emergence
Arch/Design Decisions
Detail Requirements
Solution Details Emerge As We Learn More About the Problem Details
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Deliver Value Frequently
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Why User Stories? User Story Basics Some Practice Next Steps
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Business Problems to Stories
Business Problem
ScenariosPersona
User Stories
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Product Backlog “Grooming”
Business Problem
ScenariosPersona
User Stories
On-Going Effort Through Out the Product Life Cycle
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Minimum Solution Set
Business Problem
ScenariosPersona
User Stories
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Persona
Who is the user?
What is his/her job?
Why does he/she need your product to do that job?
What is a typical day at work?
What are his/her primary concerns?
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Persona Example
Associate Anyone driving a company vehicle or any vehicle on behalf of the company
Job Title Various
Assumptions Familiar with basic computing, enough to follow a link and complete a form. Should have access to email
Situation • Just involved in an accident. • Need to capture what happened ASAP• May be rattled by the event, need to
minimize frustration with a tool very easy to use
• Once accident reported, interaction with this application may end
Motivation Help Risk Management get the best outcome for the company and get this incident behind me
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As a <role> I want to <perform a function>so that <some value>
User Stories
As a field engineer I want to make sure I
have executed all the steps necessary to finish
a task so that I do not make a mistake or leave
out something important.
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As a vacation planner, I can see photos of the hotels that are near specific points of interest so I can help my client decide on an appropriate place to stay
Some Examples
As a bank
customer, I want
to view my
balance online so
that I can avoid
overdrafts.As an electricity
consumer, I want to
pay my bill online so
that I can save the
trouble of mailing my
payment
As a decision engine system, I want to
receive loan applicant data so
that I can determine loan eligibility
As CTO I want the system to use our existing database so we don’t have multiple databases to support
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INVEST in Good User Stories
Independent: care should be taken to avoid introducing dependencies between stories
Negotiable: stories are not written contracts or requirements… they are conversations
Valuable: stories should address the value they bring to the customer, or other stakeholders
Estimatable: if the story is not bounded, then we have no way to determine its size
Small: larger Epics (“Features”) are okay, but they need to be broken down to smaller stories
Testable: the criteria for successful delivery of the feature needs to be defined along with the story
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Conditions of
Success
Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance Criteria
• Condition ….
• Condition ….
• Condition ….
• Demonstrate that ….
• Demonstrate that ….
• Demonstrate that ….
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Sample Product BacklogName User Story Priority SizeMake Reservation As a pet owner I want to reserve a PoodlePalace Suite so that FiFi will have
the ultimate doggie day care experience.1 8
Meal Preference As a pet owner I want to specify a meal/treat preference so that FiFi has her usual food.
2 2
Web Camera As a pet owner I want to view FiFi via a web camera so that I can see how happy and active she is.
3 13
Pooch Profile As a pet owner I want to create a Pooch Profile so that I don't have to keep repeating my preferences.
4 5
Online Payment As a pet owner I want to pay on-line for FiFi's stay at PoodlePalace so that her accommodation is guaranteed.
5 8
Confirm Reservation
As a reservationist I want to send a confirmation to FiFi's owners so that they be assured of their reservation for FiFi.
6 8
Space Availability As a reservationist I want to the availability of an accommodation so that I don't accept multiple reservations for the same date.
7 3
Medical Treatment
As a pet handler I want to be reminded when to administer any medicines for FiFi so that she receives the proper treatments.
8 8
Special Needs As a pet handler I want to review any special needs for FiFi so that I know how to care for her.
9 3
Temperament As a pet handler I want to know which other dogs FiFi plays well with so that she has a safe environment.
10 5
Activity Schedule As a pet handler I want to create a schedule of activities for FiFi so that she is well attended.
11 5
Feedback As the owner of PoodlePalace I want to collect feedback from pet owners so that I know how to improve my services.
12 5
Historic Data As the owner of PoodlePalace I want to review historical data so that I know which services are most commonly used.
13 8
Virtual Tour As the owner of PoodlePalace I want to offer a virtual tour of my facilities so that potential customers are attracted to my business.
14 13
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Bringing Business and Delivery Together
Product
Backlog
Grooming
Scrum, Kanban, …
Business Needs Delivery
Cycle
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Why User Stories? User Story Basics Some Practice Next Steps
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User Story Writing Pick a Product? Who Are Your Users?
Write 5-10 User Stories Verify With the INVEST
Model What Are the Acceptance
Criteria?
Quantity Over Quality
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INVEST in Good User Stories
Independent: care should be taken to avoid introducing dependencies between stories
Negotiable: stories are not written contracts or requirements… they are conversations
Valuable: stories should address the value they bring to the customer, or other stakeholders
Estimatable: if the story is not bounded, then we have no way to determine its size
Small: larger Epics (“Features”) are okay, but they need to be broken down to smaller stories
Testable: the criteria for successful delivery of the feature needs to be defined along with the story
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Why User Stories? User Story Basics Some Practice Next Steps
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User Stories
Refine Business Outcomes
Promote Emergence
Support Product
Visions & Roadmaps
Enable Frequent Delivery
Show Predictable
Visible Progress
Improve Decision Making
As a <Role> I want
to <perform a
function> so that
<some value>
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Where Can You Improve?
What Would be the Benefit to Your Organization?
What Do You Want to Start Doing Differently?
Next Steps
Consulting ▪ Coaching ▪ Mentoring▪ Agile Adoption ▪ Agile Leadership ▪ Product Management
▪ Leadership Agility 360™ Assessment
10+ Years Agile Techniques ▪ 10+ Years Project Leadership ▪ 20+ Years Information Technology
▪ Past President/Advisor National Board of Directors ▪ Founder Houston Chapter
▪ Stage Producer – Agile 2010, Agile 2011▪ Presenter – Agile 2010▪ Stage Producer – Agile Executive Forum 2011
www.robbiemaciver.com
@robbiemaciver
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