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User Stories

5 minutes 5 Questions

User stories represent a high-level definition of requirements in a BDD approach. This concept involves defining features from the perspective of end-users. User stories are written in a simple and non-technical language that focuses on the value a user gets from a feature rather than how that feature will be implemented. A typical user story includes a type of user, the desired feature or action, and the expected benefit or value.

Guide: User Stories in PMI-ACP BDD

User Stories in Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) represent a fundamental building block for Agile project management. What are User Stories?
In the context of software development, 'User Stories' are informal explanations of a software feature, told from the perspective of the end user. The primary purpose of a 'User Story' is to create a simplified description of a requirement. Why are User Stories important?
User Stories help ensure that all team members understand what needs to be done from the stakeholder's viewpoint. They offer a quicker, more flexible path to translating requirements into solutions and encourage proactive communication amongst the team. They are important because they keep focus on user satisfaction, often leading to better project outcomesHow do User Stories work?
The structure of a user story is typically as follows: 'As a <type of user>, I want <some feature> so that <some reason>'. They drive the creation of test scenarios and directly support test-driven development (TDD) and BDDExam Tips: Answering Questions on User Stories
When answering questions on User Stories in the PMI-ACP exam:

  1. Remember the structure of User Stories and know that they are written from the user’s perspective.
  2. Highlight the benefits of User Stories and connect them with the principles of Agile and BDD.
  3. Consider the context of the question. Many User Story questions revolve around user satisfaction and the value delivered to the client.
Understand that the purpose of User Stories is to foster understanding and communication, they are not a detailed specification. They are a promise for further conversation.

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PMI-ACP - Behavior Driven Development (BDD) Example Questions

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Question 1

The product owner created a user story that is too complex to be implemented in one sprint. Select the best possible solution.

Correct Answer: The product owner should break down the user story into smaller, manageable stories.

The best solution to the given problem is wherein 'The product owner should break down the user story into smaller, manageable stories.' User stories are meant to be sized, built and tested within a single sprint iteration. If a story is too large to fit into one sprint, it can be divided into several smaller user stories, each of which can be implemented and tested separately. Let's analyze the other options: 'Ask the product owner to simplify the user story.' is not really a feasible solution because the complexity of a story is largely determined by its inherent characteristics, not necessarily how it's described. Also, the details included in complex stories are usually necessary for a full understanding The option 'Implement the story over multiple sprints.' isn't ideal because user stories should be delivered incrementally, in a single sprint iterations. Spreading a story over multiple sprints may cause dependencies problems, and can potentially lead to delivery delay 'Ignore the story and move to the next one.' This is not a productive approach. Simply ignoring a complex user story doesn't solve the underlying issue. Also, the story may contain crucial functionality that can't be ignored.

Question 2

The product owner has written a user story that is not clear to the team and faces difficulty estimating the story points. As a Scrum Master, how should you address this issue?

Correct Answer: Facilitate a meeting between the product owner and the team to clarify the user story and rewrite it if necessary.

In Scrum, the role of the Scrum Master includes servant leadership and facilitation, which means they are responsible for helping the team and the product owner collaborate efficiently. When the team faces difficulty understanding a user story, the Scrum Master should arrange a conversation between the Product Owner and the team to clarify the story points. Rewriting the story if required ensures that the story is clear, which will make it feasible to estimate. This approach promotes transparency and collaboration The other answer suggesting removing the story from the backlog is a less helpful approach because the ambiguity could be resolved through a discussion, and the story might still provide business value. Rewriting the story without consulting the Product Owner disregards the Scrum principles of collaboration and respect. The Scrum Team needs to work with the Product Owner and not bypass them. Ignoring the ambiguity and proceeding with an assumed interpretation is risky and might lead to delivering a feature which doesn't meet the Product Owner's expectation or provide the desired business value.

Question 3

The Scrum Team is struggling to understand a user story written by the product owner. What should the ScrumMaster suggest first?

Correct Answer: The ScrumMaster should arrange a meeting between the product owner and the team for clarification.

In Scrum, communication is crucial. If a user story is unclear, the first approach should always be to seek clarification from the author of the story, in this case, the Product Owner. Hence, the ScrumMaster should arrange a meeting for clarification between the product owner and the team. Explaining why the other answers are incorrect: - Researching and explaining the user story himself might lead to misinterpretations as the ScrumMaster is not the author of the story. Also, it is not his role to interpret the requirements for the team - Advising the team to skip the misunderstood story is not a productive solution as the user story might contain essential features for the product - Requesting a substitute product owner is an extreme action which should only be considered if the product owner is consistently incapable of writing clear user stories, not as an immediate reaction to an unclear user story.

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