Glossaries
User Stories
What are User Stories?
User stories are concise, informal descriptions of a software feature from the perspective of the end user. They typically follow a simple template: "As a [type of user], I want [an action] so that [a benefit/a value]."
Synonyms: User Narratives, Agile User Stories, User Requirements, User Scenarios
Why User Stories are Important
User stories are crucial in agile software development and user research because they:
- Keep the focus on the user's needs and goals
- Encourage collaboration between developers, designers, and stakeholders
- Help prioritize features based on user value
- Provide a clear, concise way to communicate requirements
How User Stories are Used in User Research
In user research, user stories serve multiple purposes:
- Guiding interview questions and usability testing scenarios
- Helping researchers understand user motivations and pain points
- Informing the creation of personas and user journey maps
- Facilitating the prioritization of research efforts
Examples of User Stories
Here are some examples of user stories in different contexts:
- E-commerce: "As a busy parent, I want to save my shopping list so that I can quickly reorder items for my weekly grocery shopping."
- Social media: "As a content creator, I want to schedule posts in advance so that I can maintain a consistent posting schedule."
- Healthcare app: "As a patient with chronic illness, I want to track my symptoms daily so that I can share accurate information with my doctor."
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between user stories and use cases?: User stories are shorter, less formal, and focus on user value, while use cases are more detailed and describe step-by-step interactions.
- How long should a user story be?: User stories should be concise, typically fitting on a single index card or sticky note. They should be small enough to be completed in a single sprint.
- Who writes user stories?: Anyone on the team can write user stories, including product owners, developers, designers, or even users themselves. However, the product owner is usually responsible for managing the backlog of user stories.
- How do user stories fit into the overall user research process?: User stories can be generated from initial user research findings and then used to guide further research, prototype development, and usability testing.