Deliver User Stories

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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-prd first; 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:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Define Acceptance Criteria

Write specific, testable criteria using Given/When/Then format. Acceptance criteria define "done" - if all criteria pass, the story is complete.

• Apply INVEST Criteria

Validate each story against INVEST: Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, Testable. Revise stories that don't meet these criteria.

• 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.