User Stories
User stories are concise descriptions of functionality from the user's perspective. They capture who needs something, what they need, and why - without prescribing how to build it. Good user stories enable teams to break large features into estimable, deliverable increments while maintaining focus on user value.
When to Use
- After PRD approval, when breaking down features for implementation
- During sprint planning to create actionable work items
- When writing tickets for engineering teams
- When communicating requirements to stakeholders in accessible terms
- When prioritizing a backlog based on user value
When NOT to Use
- You need deeper, QA-ready Given/When/Then coverage for a single story or slice -> use
deliver-acceptance-criteria - You need the feature-wide catalog of boundary conditions and failure scenarios -> use
deliver-edge-cases - The feature itself is not yet specified -> use
deliver-prdfirst; stories should trace back to documented requirements - You want refinement-session outcomes (estimates, scope decisions, open questions) -> use
iterate-refinement-notes
Instructions
When asked to create user stories, follow these steps:
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Understand the Feature Context Review the PRD or feature description. Understand the overall goal, target users, and scope boundaries. User stories should trace back to documented requirements.
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Identify User Personas Determine which users interact with this feature. Each story should be written for a specific persona, not generic "users." Different personas may need different stories for the same feature.
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Break Down by User Goal Decompose the feature into distinct user goals. Each story should deliver a complete, valuable capability - something the user can actually do when the story is done.
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Write Story Statements Use the format: "As a [persona], I want [action] so that [benefit]." The benefit clause is critical - it explains why this matters and helps prioritize.
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Define Acceptance Criteria Write specific, testable criteria using Given/When/Then format. Acceptance criteria define "done" - if all criteria pass, the story is complete.
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Apply INVEST Criteria Validate each story against INVEST: Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, Testable. Revise stories that don't meet these criteria.
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Add Context and Notes Include relevant design references, technical considerations, and dependencies. These help implementers understand the full picture.
Output Format
Use the template in references/TEMPLATE.md to structure the output. A complete output carries, per story: Story Header; User Story Statement; Context & Background; Acceptance Criteria; Design Notes; Technical Notes; Dependencies; Out of Scope; and Open Questions where any remain. Multi-story documents nest these sections under one heading per story, as the example shows.
Quality Checklist
Before finalizing, verify:
- Each story follows "As a... I want... so that..." format
- Stories are independent (can be built in any order)
- Acceptance criteria use Given/When/Then format
- Each criterion is testable (someone can verify pass/fail)
- Stories are small enough to complete in one sprint
- No implementation details in the story statement
- Benefit clause explains why this matters to the user
Examples
See references/EXAMPLE.md for a completed example.
