Structuring Agile Work: Epics, Stories, Tasks, DoR, DoD, Artifacts and more
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What Is an Epic?
- Decomposing Epics into User Stories
- Decomposing User Stories into Tasks & Subtasks
- 4.1 Why Decompose
- 4.2 Definitions
- 4.3 Task Template
- 4.4 Subtask Template
- 4.5 Example Breakdown
- 4.5.1 Implement Data Encryption
- 4.5.1.1 Subtasks for Task 1
- 4.5.2 Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- 4.5.2.1 Subtasks for Task 2
- 4.5.3 Setup Audit Logging
- 4.5.3.1 Subtasks for Task 3
- Important Notes / Definition of Ready
- Maintaining Clarification Logs
- Tooling & Traceability
1. Introduction
In Agile product development, clearly defined Epics and User Stories are essential for delivering value efficiently, yet many teams face challenges like vague requirements, scope creep, and misaligned expectations. This guide provides a practical approach to defining, structuring, and using Epics and User Stories effectively, ensuring teams deliver the right value with clarity and speed. It covers how to define Epics with real examples, apply the INVEST framework for well-structured User Stories, and decompose Epics into coherent stories. You’ll learn how to use a reusable Story template, handle questions and requirement gaps, assign work across skills without losing user value, and apply the Definition of Ready and Definition of Done. By mastering these practices, teams can prevent scope drift, speed up estimation and planning, improve testability and acceptance alignment, enhance stakeholder transparency, and meet compliance requirements. All examples in this guide use a School Management System (SMS) domain, chosen for its multiple personas (admins, teachers, students, parents), regulated data (attendance, grades), and measurable outcomes (engagement, timeliness, accuracy), making it ideal for illustrating good Epic and Story design. This guide is structured to provide a snapshot of core concepts, followed by detailed sections on Epics, User Stories, acceptance criteria, and quality gates. It includes practical templates, checklists, and examples to help teams implement these practices effectively. Whether you are new to Agile or looking to refine your existing processes, this guide serves as a comprehensive resource for mastering Epics and User Stories in your product development lifecycle.
2. What Is an Epic?
In Agile, an Epic is a large, high-level body of work that represents a significant deliverable or business objective, too big to complete in a single iteration, and therefore broken down into multiple smaller, related User Stories.
It describes what needs to be achieved from a business perspective, without detailing the step-by-step tasks. Epics provide a broad context and vision, helping teams align on the “big picture” before diving into granular requirements.
Example (School Management System): Epic: “Enable online student attendance tracking for teachers” — This could later be decomposed into stories like “Mark daily attendance,” “Generate attendance reports,” and “Notify parents of absences.”
Would you like me to also give you a formal template for writing Epics so it stays consistent in your article?
2.1 Practical Steps to Define an Epic
- Start with a clear business objective (outcome wording).
- Express the problem in user or operational terms.
- Draft success metrics (target + baseline if known).
- Bound scope explicitly (what’s in / deferred).
- List personas impacted.
- Sketch capability slices (proto-stories).
- Capture dependencies & risks.
- Define closure criteria (Epic DoD).
2.2 Epic Template
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Title | Outcome-oriented name |
| Problem / Context | Current pain, constraint, opportunity |
| Desired Outcome | Qualitative value statement |
| Success Metrics | Quantified targets (KPI / leading indicators) |
| Primary Personas | Direct beneficiaries |
| Secondary Personas | Indirect stakeholders |
| In Scope | Capabilities included now |
| Out of Scope / Later | Deferred elements to prevent creep |
| Capability Slices | Seed list of candidate stories |
| Dependencies | External systems / other epics |
| Risks / Assumptions | Key uncertainties |
| Epic Definition of Done | Closure conditions (stories + metrics + docs) |
2.3 Example Epic (School Management System)
- Title: Automated Attendance Tracking & Alerts
- Problem: Teachers spend ~8 mins per class on manual attendance; late parent awareness drives support tickets.
- Desired Outcome: Streamline attendance submission & accelerate parent notification.
- Success Metrics:
- Median attendance submission time ≤ 2 minutes
- ≥ 75% unexcused absence notifications < 10 minutes from class start
- Attendance-related support tickets −30%
- In Scope: Roster pre-population, bulk marking, correction window, absence notification, audit log.
- Out of Scope (Now): Historical analytics dashboard, absence appeals workflow.
- Capability Slices: Pre-populated roster; bulk remaining absent; parent notification; late arrival adjustment; incomplete attendance dashboard; anomaly detection; audit export.
- Dependencies: Enrollment API, Notification Service, Authentication Service.
- Risks / Assumptions: Parent contact data completeness ≥ 95%; stable network in classrooms.
- Epic DoD: All linked stories DoD met; metrics validated in staging baseline; documentation & runbook updated; operations dashboard live.
2.4 Epic DoD Template
You can adapt this for any epic by filling in the specifics:
Epic Definition of Done Template
- ✅ All linked user stories have met their respective DoD.
- 📊 Success metrics for the epic validated in staging (or pre-production) against baseline targets.
- 📄 User-facing documentation (release notes, help articles, FAQs) completed and approved.
- 🛠️ Technical documentation and runbooks updated for operations/support teams.
- 📈 Monitoring & operational dashboards live and reviewed by stakeholders.
- 🔒 Security, performance, and compliance checks passed.
- 🚀 Epic-level UAT (User Acceptance Testing) completed with sign-off.
- 📅 Deployment plan created and communicated to all stakeholders.
2.5 Epic DoD Example – Automated Attendance Tracking & Alerts
Epic DoD:
- ✅ All linked user stories (roster pre-population, bulk absent marking, parent notifications, etc.) have passed their DoD including acceptance criteria, testing, and reviews.
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📊 Success metrics validated in staging:
- Median attendance submission time ≤ 2 minutes
- ≥ 75% unexcused absence notifications sent in under 10 minutes
- Attendance-related support tickets projected to drop by 30%
- 📄 Teacher guide updated with steps for using bulk marking and correction windows; parent FAQ for absence notifications published.
- 🛠️ Support team runbook updated for troubleshooting notification failures; escalation paths documented.
- 📈 Attendance operations dashboard live in production and verified by school admin team.
- 🔒 Privacy compliance checks passed for student data under education regulations.
- 🚀 UAT completed with school pilot group and sign-off obtained from product owner.
- 📅 Deployment plan created and communicated to all stakeholders.
3. Decomposing Epics into User Stories
3.1 Slicing Principles
- Think vertical, not just technical: Each story should deliver something the user can actually see or use, instead of splitting only by backend, frontend, or database work.
- One goal, one story: Focus each story on one user or system goal at a time.
- Show real change: Every story should make something different in the product — whether it’s a new feature, a visible improvement, or a behavior change.
- Separate the tricky bits: If exceptions or edge cases make a story too big, pull them out into their own smaller stories.
- Keep them as independent as possible: Try to write stories that can be built and released in any order, using things like mocks or feature flags to avoid blockers.
3.2 Example User Stories (Based on the Epic Above)
- View Class Roster: As a teacher, I can see a pre-filled list of my students so I can start marking attendance right away.
- Bulk Mark Absences: As a teacher, I can mark all unmarked students as absent in one step to save time.
- Notify Parents Automatically: When a student is marked absent, the system sends a notification to their parent.
- Parent Sends Excuse: As a parent, I can submit an absence excuse directly from the notification I receive.
- Late Arrival Adjustment: As a teacher, I can change a student’s status from absent to late within a set grace period.
- Track Incomplete Attendance: As an admin, I can see a dashboard of classes with missing attendance records after 15 minutes of class start.
- Flag Attendance Anomalies: The system alerts staff when a student has three unexcused absences in a row.
3.3 The INVEST Framework
The INVEST framework is a quick way to check if a user story is truly ready for development. It was created by Bill Wake and acts like a quality checklist so your stories are clear, valuable, and doable.
INVEST stands for:
| Letter | Meaning | Ask Yourself | Watch Out For | How to Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Independent | Can this story be built without waiting for another? | Strong dependencies or shared acceptance criteria | Use mocks/stubs, or split/merge stories logically |
| N | Negotiable | Is the focus on what to achieve, not how to build it? | Story forces a fixed design or tech choice | Move technical details to notes; reframe around the value |
| V | Valuable | Will a user (or system) gain clear value immediately? | “Plumbing only” or invisible backend work | Add a thin, visible slice or combine with a related story |
| E | Estimable | Can the team guess the effort with reasonable confidence? | External API unknowns, unclear scope | Do a research spike and capture assumptions |
| S | Small | Can it be done comfortably within one sprint? | Multiple workflows bundled together | Break it into smaller stories by workflow or state |
| T | Testable | Can we write clear pass/fail criteria? | Vague terms like “fast” or “secure” | Define measurable criteria and include negative cases |
Definition of Ready rule: If a story fails any one of the INVEST checks, refine it before the sprint starts. A good story should pass all six.
Why is it required?
- The INVEST framework helps:
- Improve clarity of user stories.
- Avoid ambiguity that leads to misunderstandings during development.
- Enable better planning because stories are easier to estimate and prioritize.
- Ensure quality so that stories are complete and testable.
When to use it?
- During backlog refinement to check the quality of new or existing user stories.
- Before development starts to confirm stories are ready for the team.
- During sprint planning to ensure each story is truly “ready to work on.”
3.4 User Story Template
Title: A short, clear description of the goal (avoid technical jargon).
Story: As a [role/persona] I want [what they want to do] So that [why they want it / benefit / outcome]
Business Value / Metric Link: What business value does this story deliver? How does it link to measurable success or outcomes?
Background / Policy Context: Any relevant context, policies, or business rules that impact this story.
Acceptance Criteria:(Gherkin or bullets)
- [First clear, measurable condition that must be true for the story to be accepted]
- [Second condition]
- [Negative or edge case]
- Given … When … Then … (Gherkin format)
- Or bullet points specifying expected behavior.
Non-Functional Requirements (Story-specific): Performance, usability, security, or other non-functional expectations specific to this story.
Definition of Done (DoD) Checklist:
- Code developed and peer-reviewed
- Unit tests written and passing
- Integrated and tested in staging
- Documentation updated (user + technical)
- Meets performance/security requirements
- Accepted by Product Owner
Data/Fields / Notes / Constraints:
- Any design references, API contracts, or business rules that apply.
- Important data elements involved and any validation rules.
Assumptions: Conditions or dependencies assumed true for this story.
Out of Scope:
- What is explicitly excluded from this story’s scope?
Dependencies/Links:
- List of other stories, systems, or services needed.
- Other stories, features, APIs, or external services that this story depends on or relates to.
Security & Privacy Notes: Any security, authorization, or privacy considerations relevant to this story.
Priority:
- High / Medium / Low
3.5 Example Functional User Story (School Management System)
Title: Bulk Mark Remaining Students Absent
Story: As a teacher I want to mark all remaining unmarked students as absent with a single click So that I can save time during attendance and focus more on teaching
Business Value / Metric Link: Reduces attendance marking time, improving teacher efficiency and classroom management. Targets reducing manual entry time by at least 50%.
Background / Policy Context: Attendance must be recorded daily as per school policy. Teachers often have limited time; bulk marking helps streamline the process. The feature integrates with existing roster pre-population.
Acceptance Criteria (Gherkin or bullets):
- Bulk mark button is visible only after attendance marking has started.
- Clicking the bulk mark button marks all unmarked students as absent instantly.
- A confirmation prompt appears before bulk marking is applied to prevent mistakes.
- System logs bulk marking actions for audit purposes.
Non-Functional Requirements (Story-specific):
- Feature must work on both desktop and mobile web interfaces.
- Response time for bulk marking should be under 2 seconds for a class of up to 50 students.
Definition of Done (DoD) Checklist:
- Code developed and peer-reviewed
- Unit tests written and passing
- Integrated and tested in staging environment
- User documentation and help guides updated
- Meets accessibility standards
- Approved by Product Owner
Data / Fields & Validation Notes:
- Unmarked students identified by null attendance status.
- Confirmation dialog requires explicit user acceptance before applying changes.
Assumptions:
- The roster is pre-populated before attendance marking begins.
- Teacher is authenticated and authorized to mark attendance.
Out of Scope:
- Handling corrections or edits post bulk-marking (covered in separate stories).
- Notifications to parents based on attendance changes.
Dependencies / Links:
- Roster API for student lists
- Authentication Service for user identity
Security & Privacy Notes:
- Only authorized teachers can perform bulk marking.
- Audit logs must be securely stored and accessible to admins only.
Priority: High
3.5 Example Non-Functional User Story (School Management System)
Title: Secure Attendance Data Storage
Story: As a compliance officer I want all attendance data to be encrypted and access-controlled So that sensitive student information is protected and the system complies with privacy regulations
Business Value / Metric Link: Ensures compliance with data privacy laws such as GDPR and FERPA, reducing legal risks and building trust with parents and stakeholders.
Background / Policy Context: School data policies mandate strict handling of student records. Attendance data contains personally identifiable information (PII) that must be safeguarded.
Acceptance Criteria (Gherkin or bullets):
- Attendance data is encrypted both at rest and in transit using industry-standard encryption.
- Role-based access control restricts attendance data access to authorized users only (teachers, admins).
- Audit logs track all access and modifications to attendance records.
- System passes security audits with no critical vulnerabilities.
Non-Functional Requirements (Story-specific):
- Encryption must comply with AES-256 standards or equivalent.
- Access control should integrate with existing authentication and authorization systems.
- Audit logs must be immutable and retained for at least 12 months.
Definition of Done (DoD) Checklist:
- Encryption implemented and verified in staging environment
- Access controls tested with positive and negative cases
- Audit logging operational and verified
- Security documentation updated
- Approved by Security and Compliance teams
Data / Fields & Validation Notes:
- Sensitive fields: student name, attendance status, timestamps.
- Validation of encryption keys rotation policy.
Assumptions:
- Authentication system provides reliable user identity and roles.
- Encryption libraries are up-to-date and maintained.
Out of Scope:
- Encryption of other unrelated school data (handled separately).
- User training on security policies.
Dependencies / Links:
- Authentication Service
- Logging/Audit Service
- Security compliance standards (GDPR, FERPA)
Security & Privacy Notes:
- Compliance with all applicable data protection regulations.
- Regular vulnerability scans and audits required.
Priority: High
4.0 Decomposing User Stories into Tasks and Subtasks
4.1 Why Decompose?
User stories define what needs to be done, but tasks and subtasks break down the how — the actual work units needed to implement the story. This helps with clear assignment, estimation, and tracking during development.
4.2 Definitions:
- Task: A distinct piece of work needed to complete a user story. Usually assigned to a developer or team member.
- Subtask: Smaller steps or checks within a task, often used to track progress or ensure quality.
4.3 Task Template
Title: Clear, concise description of the work to be done.
Description: Detailed explanation of what the task involves.
Assigned To: Person or role responsible.
Estimated Effort: Time estimate (hours/days).
Acceptance Criteria: Conditions for considering the task complete.
Dependencies: Other tasks or resources needed.
Status: Not started / In progress / Completed.
4.4 Subtask Template
Title: Brief description of the sub-step or check.
Description: Details on the subtask specifics.
Assigned To: Person or role.
Estimated Effort: Short time estimate.
Status: Not started / In progress / Completed.
4.5 Example Based on Secure Attendance Data Storage User Story
User Story Recap: Secure Attendance Data Storage — encrypt attendance data and enforce access control to protect student privacy.
Task 4.5.1: Implement Data Encryption
Description: Apply AES-256 encryption for attendance data at rest and ensure data in transit is encrypted via TLS.
Assigned To: Backend Developer
Estimated Effort: 2 days
Acceptance Criteria:
- Data stored in the database is encrypted.
- Data transmitted over network uses TLS.
- Encryption keys management follows security guidelines.
Dependencies: Security library, Database encryption support
Task 4.5.1.1: Subtasks for Task 1
- Subtask 1.1: Research AES-256 encryption library for .NET
- Subtask 1.2: Implement encryption for attendance data before saving to database
- Subtask 1.3: Implement decryption logic for retrieving data
- Subtask 1.4: Configure TLS for all API endpoints handling attendance data
- Subtask 1.5: Write unit tests to validate encryption and decryption
Task 4.5.2: Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Description: Restrict access to attendance records based on user roles (Teacher, Admin, Compliance Officer).
Assigned To: Backend Developer
Estimated Effort: 1.5 days
Acceptance Criteria:
- Unauthorized users cannot access attendance data.
- Role permissions configurable and testable.
- Access attempts are logged.
Dependencies: Authentication system, User roles definitions
Task 4.5.2.1: Subtasks for Task 2
- Subtask 2.1: Define role permissions matrix
- Subtask 2.2: Implement access control middleware
- Subtask 2.3: Integrate with existing authentication service
- Subtask 2.4: Write tests for authorized and unauthorized access
- Subtask 2.5: Implement access logging
4.5.3 Task 3: Setup Audit Logging for Attendance Data Access
Description: Track all access and modifications to attendance data for compliance.
Assigned To: DevOps / Backend Developer
Estimated Effort: 1 day
Acceptance Criteria:
- All access and change events are logged with timestamp and user ID.
- Logs are immutable and stored securely.
- Audit trail accessible for review.
Dependencies: Logging infrastructure, Security policies
Task 4.5.3.1: Subtasks for Task 3
- Subtask 3.1: Configure audit logging service
- Subtask 3.2: Instrument attendance data access points for logging
- Subtask 3.3: Secure log storage setup
- Subtask 3.4: Test audit log retrieval and integrity
5.0 Important Notes
5.1 Definition of Ready (DoR)
Definition of Ready (DoR) is a clear checklist or set of criteria that a user story (or work item) must meet before the team can confidently start working on it in a sprint or iteration. It ensures that the story is well-understood, actionable, and has everything needed to begin development without blockers.
5.1.1 What is Definition of Ready?
- Purpose: To confirm that the user story is fully prepared for implementation.
- Focus: Completeness of requirements, clarity, dependencies resolved, acceptance criteria defined, and any necessary designs or approvals available.
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Benefits:
- Prevents starting work on vague or incomplete stories.
- Improves sprint planning accuracy.
- Reduces mid-sprint interruptions for clarifications.
5.1.2 Where Should Definition of Ready Be Written?
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In the Agile Tool or Backlog Management System: Usually, DoR is maintained alongside user stories in tools like Jira, Azure DevOps, or Trello. It can be part of the story’s description, a checklist, or a linked artifact.
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Team Documentation or Wiki: Teams often document the standard DoR checklist in a shared space (e.g., Confluence, SharePoint) to align everyone on expectations.
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In the Definition of Ready Policy or Team Working Agreement: Formal Agile teams might maintain a DoR policy document as part of their team norms or working agreements.
5.1.3 When is Definition of Ready (DoR) Used?
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Before Sprint Planning: To decide which user stories are ready to be included in the upcoming sprint backlog.
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During Backlog Refinement/Grooming: To review and prepare stories so they meet the readiness criteria before the sprint planning session.
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Prior to Starting Development: Ensures the development team has enough clarity and resources to start work without delays.
5.1.4 Sample Definition of Ready (DoR) Checklist
Before a user story can be marked as “Ready” to work on, it should meet these criteria:
- Story description is clear, complete, and understandable.
- Acceptance criteria are well-defined and testable.
- Story scope is small enough to be completed within a sprint.
- Dependencies are identified and resolved or planned.
- UX/UI designs, wireframes, or mockups are available if needed.
- Non-functional requirements (performance, security, compliance) are specified.
- Business value or user impact is clear.
- Product Owner has reviewed and approved the story.
- Story is estimated or ready for estimation.
- Necessary environments, tools, and data are accessible to the team.
- Any risks or constraints are identified and communicated.
6 Maintaining Clarification Logs
- Purpose: Capture all questions, clarifications, and answers related to user stories or epics.
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Where to maintain:
- In your project management tool (like Jira, Azure DevOps, or Trello), use a dedicated field or comment thread within the User Story or Epic.
- Alternatively, maintain a shared document or spreadsheet (e.g., Confluence page or Google Sheet) linked from the story.
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Content to include:
- Date and time of the question
- Person who raised the question
- Detailed description of the question or gap
- Clarification or answer provided
- Status (open, resolved)
- Link to relevant documentation if available
6.1 Capturing Change Tracking
- Purpose: Track any scope changes or requirement updates discovered during development.
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How to do it:
- Change Request Process: Use your PM tool to raise change requests or create new user stories linked to the original.
- Version Control: Update acceptance criteria and documentation with version history or timestamps.
- Comments and Tags: Clearly tag stories or tasks with labels like “change-request” or “scope-update.”
- Approval Workflow: Changes should ideally go through Product Owner or Stakeholder approval before implementation.
- Why: This ensures transparency, auditability, and controlled scope management.
6.2 Accommodating Wireframes or Design Documents
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Where to store:
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Use a centralized, accessible location such as:
- A Confluence page or SharePoint document library
- A cloud storage folder (Google Drive, OneDrive)
- Embedded attachments or links within the project management tool user story/task.
-
-
How to associate:
- Link design docs directly in the user story or task description.
- Mention version numbers or dates to avoid confusion with older files.
- Notify the development team about updates via comments or messaging channels.
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Best Practices:
- Keep wireframes/designs updated alongside requirements.
- Include annotations or notes on design changes relevant to development.
6.3 Summary Workflow Example
- Developer identifies a requirement gap or needs clarification → logs a question in the clarification log or comments on the story.
- Product Owner or Business Analyst reviews and provides a clarification or decision → updates the clarification log.
- If a change is required, a formal change request or additional user story is created, linked back to the original.
- Any new or updated wireframes/design docs are uploaded to the shared repository and linked in the relevant story.
- Team members are notified, and updates are tracked through the project management tool.
6.4 Tools that Support This Process
- Jira: Comments, custom fields, attachments, linked issues, change logs.
- Azure DevOps: Work item discussions, attachments, version control.
- Confluence: Collaborative pages for clarifications and design documentation.
- Slack/Microsoft Teams: Real-time notifications linked to tasks.
7 Tooling & Traceability
| Purpose | Tool Type | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Managing Backlog & Hierarchy | Work Tracking | Jira, Azure DevOps |
| Documenting Decisions & Knowledge | Wiki / Knowledge Base | Confluence, Notion |
| Source Code & Story Linking | Version Control System (VCS) | GitHub, GitLab (with commit referencing story IDs) |
| Automating Builds & Deployments | CI/CD Pipelines | GitHub Actions, Azure Pipelines |
| Creating & Sharing Design Assets | UI/UX Design Tools | Figma |
| Managing Test Cases & Coverage | Test Management | Azure Test Plans, Xray, TestRail |
| Monitoring Performance & Logs | Observability Tools | Grafana, Elastic Stack, Datadog |
| Checking Code Security & Dependencies | Security Scanning | SonarQube, Dependabot |
Certainly! Here’s a rewritten version of the traceability chain with a simple text-based diagram to illustrate the flow:
Traceability Chain: Objective / OKR → Epic → User Stories → Tasks → Commits / Tests → Build / Deploy → Telemetry → Metric Dashboard.
Each step links to the next, ensuring full visibility from business goals through to live system metrics, helping teams track progress, quality, and impact end-to-end.
7.1 User Story Readiness Checklist
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Clear and Understandable The story is clearly written and easy to understand by all team members.
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Well Defined Acceptance Criteria Acceptance criteria are specific, measurable, and testable.
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Small and Scoped The story is sized appropriately to fit within a sprint and focused on one goal.
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Value Driven The story delivers clear business or user value.
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Dependencies Identified Any external or internal dependencies are known and documented.
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Testable The story can be tested with clear pass/fail criteria.
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Prioritized The story is prioritized in the backlog according to business needs.
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No Blocking Issues There are no known blockers or unclear requirements preventing progress.
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Team Agreement The team has reviewed and agrees the story is ready to be worked on.
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Non-Functional Requirements Included Relevant performance, security, usability, or compliance needs are specified.
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Data and Validation Needs Defined Required data fields and validation rules are documented.
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Design and Wireframes Provided Necessary UI/UX designs or wireframes are attached or accessible.
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Dependencies on Other Stories/Systems Are Tracked Related stories or system integrations are noted.
7.2 Agile/Scrum Artifacts
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Product Backlog
- A prioritized list of features, enhancements, bug fixes, and requirements for the product.
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Sprint Backlog
- The set of product backlog items selected for a sprint, plus a plan for delivering the product increment.
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User Stories
- Short, simple descriptions of a feature told from the perspective of the user.
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Epics
- Large user stories that can be broken down into smaller stories.
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Tasks
- Work items that break down user stories into actionable pieces for team members.
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Burndown Chart
- A graphical representation of work left to do versus time.
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Increment (Potentially Shippable Product Increment)
- The sum of all completed backlog items during a sprint that meets the Definition of Done.
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Definition of Done (DoD)
- A shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete.
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Definition of Ready (DoR)
- Criteria that a backlog item must meet before it can be worked on in a sprint.
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Sprint Goal
- The objective set for the sprint that guides the team.
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Release Plan
- A schedule for when features or increments will be delivered.
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Impediment Log
- A list of blockers or issues impacting the team’s progress.
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Test Cases / Test Plans
- Documentation of tests to verify backlog items meet requirements.
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Retrospective Notes / Action Items
- Insights and improvement tasks identified during sprint retrospectives.
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Story Maps
- Visual mapping of user stories to understand workflows and priorities.
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Wireframes / Mockups
- Visual designs or sketches of user interfaces.
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Release Notes
- Documentation of changes and new features in a product release.
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