Description
User stories are short statements that include the role of the user and the activity they want to perform. They are a direct and clear way to describe the achievement of a goal, in the context of a constraint. They articulate the future system from the perspective of those who will use it. Personas provide supporting background and context when developing user stories.
For example, “As a potential student, I can apply online”. User stories provide the basis from which scenarios and user pathways are developed.
Value
- User stories shift the perspective from a list of abstract and potentially arbitrary features or requirements, to a description of user-focused activities.
- They become a common language for the client and the design team, reducing the risks and inefficiencies inherent in focusing on existing constraints or conflicting agendas.
- If there are conflicts between different stakeholders, it allows team members to refocus on end goals, further strengthening the potential success of the project outcomes.
- They are quick to generate, easy to maintain and iterate on, reducing the overheads associated with excessive documentation. This also simplifies the process of circulating user stories as a shared resource for discussion and feedback.
- The user perspective provided through user stories becomes a framework through which we can examine and explore the future project strategically and as a whole
