INVEST Criteria in User Stories
A key component of agile software development is putting people first, and a user story, with its INVEST criteria, puts end users at the center of the conversation.
That’s why user story is the most common way of representing development tasks in the world of Agile development.
They provide a clear, concise description of a desired feature from the perspective of the end-user.
A typical user story follows a simple format:
As a [user role], I want to [goal] so that [benefit].
This format helps to clearly define who the user is, what they want to achieve, and why they need it.
Creating effective user stories involves more than just jotting down a few ideas.
To ensure that your user stories are effective, they must meet the INVEST criteria. This acronym stands for Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, and Testable.
In this video, we’ll dive into each of these criteria and provide practical examples to help you write high-quality user stories.
INVEST criteria:
Independent User Story
Independent user stories (INVEST criteria) should be able to stand alone without relying heavily on other stories. This means they should be self-contained and avoid creating dependencies that can slow down development.
Example of an Independent story:
“As a first-time visitor to the website, I want to create a new account so that I can save my shipping address and payment information for future purchases.”
This user story is independent because it stands alone as a self-contained unit, without relying on other features or functionalities.
Creating a new account is a distinct action that can be completed independently of other user stories.
Negotiable User Story
Negotiable user stories (INVEST criteria) are open to discussion and can be modified as needed. This flexibility allows for stakeholder collaboration and helps ensure that the final product meets their needs.
Example of Negotiable User Story:
As a customer, I want to receive personalized product recommendations so that I can discover new products that I might like.
This user story is negotiable because the specific criteria for personalization can be discussed and adjusted based on factors like user behavior, data availability, and business goals.
The exact method of recommending products could be through email, push notifications, or directly on the product pages.
Valuable User Story
Valuable user stories (INVEST criteria) deliver tangible benefits to the end-user or the business. They should align with the project’s overall goals and contribute to the success of the product.
Example of Valuable User Story:
As a customer, I want to be able to track my order status in real-time.
This user story is valuable because it directly addresses a common customer concern and provides a tangible benefit.
Tracking order status helps customers feel more confident in their purchases and reduces anxiety about delivery times.
Estimable User Story
Estimable user stories (INVEST criteria) can be accurately estimated in terms of effort and time. This allows for effective planning and resource allocation.
Example of the estimable user story
As a user, I want to be able to search for products by keyword.
This user story is estimable because the development effort can be reasonably estimated based on factors like the size of the product catalog, the complexity of the search algorithm, and the performance requirements.
Small User Story
Small user stories (INVEST criteria) are broken down into manageable chunks that can be completed within a sprint. This helps maintain a steady development pace and reduces the risk of scope creep.
Example of the small user story
As a user, I want to be able to add products to my cart.
This user story is considered small because it represents a discrete, manageable task that can be completed within a short timeframe. It doesn’t involve complex interactions or dependencies on other features.
The goal is simply to allow users to add items to their shopping cart, which is a fundamental functionality of an e-commerce website.
By breaking down larger features into smaller, more manageable user stories, development teams can improve their efficiency, reduce risk, and increase their ability to deliver value to users.
Testable User Story
Testable user stories (INVEST criteria) have clear acceptance criteria that define when the story is considered complete. This ensures that the delivered feature meets the user’s expectations.
Example of Testable User Story
As a user, I want to be able to log in to my account using my email address and password.
Acceptance criteria
- The user can successfully log in with a valid email address and password.
- The user is redirected to their account dashboard upon successful login.
- The user’s saved information, such as shipping address and payment details, is displayed correctly.
Why it’s a testable user story?
This user story is testable because it has clear acceptance criteria that define what constitutes a successful login.
These criteria can be used to create automated tests or manual test cases to verify that the feature meets the user’s requirements.
By writing testable user stories, development teams can ensure that the delivered features are of high quality and meet the user’s expectations.
Conclusion
By adhering to the INVEST criteria, you can create user stories that are clear, concise, and valuable.
This will help to streamline your development process, improve collaboration among team members, and deliver a product that meets the needs of your end-users.
