Episode 408: How to Write Excellent User Stories (Free)

Play Now: Get PMI Agile Cerfified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® Training on your phone: Betsy Stockdale and Cornelius Fichtner In agile, technically anyone can write user stories. Sounds easy, right? However, many people really do not have a good understanding of how to write high-quality stories or effectively manage the product backlog. In this interview you will learn about the full life cycle of agile requirements, including how to use visual models at each step of the iterative process. This interview with Betsy Stockdale (LinkedIn Profile) was recorded at the inspiring Project Management Institute (PMI)® Global Conference 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. We explain the life cycle of agile requirements and how to use visual models to identify epics and user stories, and how to write testable acceptance criteria using a variety of techniques. Those currently working on their PMI-ACP training will find this interview valuable for their general understanding of Agile approaches. Episode Transcript Below are the first few pages of the transcript. The complete transcript is available to Premium subscribers only. Podcast Introduction Female Voice:   In this episode of the Project Management Podcast™, we will look at the life cycle of Agile requirements and how to use visual models to identify epics and user stories. Podcast Interview Cornelius Fichtner:   Hello and welcome to the Project Management Podcast™ at www.pm-podcast.com. I am Cornelius Fichtner. We are coming to you live from the inspiring 2017 PMI Global Conference in Chicago. And with me right now is Betsy Stockdale. Good afternoon. Betsy Stockdale:   Good afternoon.   Cornelius:   How has your conference been so far? You look very chipper. Betsy:   Oh well. Of course. Because it’s really great to be here and it’s really fun to listen to a number of these different sessions and just get inspired on things that I might be able to take back to the office with me. Cornelius:   Wow and I used the word “inspire” just a moment ago. Betsy:   Yes, you did and that was not planned [laughs] Cornelius:   Completely not. So, what have you seen so far?      Betsy:   Oh well, the keynote was awesome, obviously and then there was a couple of others especially around Agile and I’m definitely working in an Agile world these days. So, just you know, attending some of the sessions with regards to Agile and really trying to pick up some tips and tricks that I can take back to my organization and my team. Cornelius:   The energy is really fantastic this year. I’m really excited to be here, yeah. Let’s move on to your presentation. Have you already presented? Betsy:   No, I’ll actually present tomorrow afternoon. Cornelius:   OK. Your presentation is about “Not Your Mama’s Acceptance Criteria: A Guide to Writing Excellent User Stories”. Now at this point, we have to make one thing clear—you’re not a project manager. You’re a business analyst?   Betsy:   I am.   Cornelius:   Yes, you are our backbone. You’re the person we can’t live without. Betsy:   I like to think so.    Cornelius:   Yes, absolutely. [laughs]  Betsy:   [laughs].    Cornelius: “Not your Mama’s Acceptance Criteria—two words—acceptance criteria: A Guide to Writing Excellent User Stories”—how do these four words—acceptance criteria and user stories—how do they match together? Betsy:   Well, it’s –in this Agile world, we really are looking at writing our requirements in a different format so instead of the system shell statements, over and over and a thousand times over, we’re really using much more of a natural language to write our requirements and that’s the user story part. So that’s very helpful in terms of understanding what it is that –who our user is and what are they trying to accomplish but