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Azure DevOps User Story

Overview

Specifying a user story in Azure DevOps involves clearly defining the requirements from a user's perspective and providing enough detail to ensure the story is actionable and implementable by the development team.

A well-crafted user story helps ensure a shared understanding of what needs to be built, why it matters, and how it should be implemented.

Best Approach to Specifying a User Story in Azure DevOps:

Use the User Story Template

Follow the standard user story template to ensure the focus remains on the user’s needs:

As a [role/user type]
I want to [action/goal]
So that [benefit/value]

For example:

As a customer,
I want to view my past orders
So that I can easily track my purchase history.

Define Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance criteria clarify what conditions must be met for the story to be considered complete. They act as a checklist to ensure that all aspects of the story are addressed.

Write acceptance criteria in a Given/When/Then format:

Given [initial context]
When [event occurs]
Then [outcome]

For example:

Given that I am logged in as a customer,
When I navigate to the "Order History" page,
Then I should see a list of my past orders with order details and status.

Acceptance criteria help ensure that the user story is testable and measurable.

Include Story Details and Description

Provide additional context or description in the Description* field to clarify any details that the development team might need. This might include:

  • Background information or user flow.
  • Specific scenarios or examples.
  • Links to designs or wireframes.

A clear description helps the team understand the broader context and how the story fits into the overall project.

Attach Relevant Files and Mockups

If the user story involves a specific UI change or interaction, attach mockups, wireframes, or design files. This helps developers and testers visualize what is expected.

Use the Attachments or Links sections in Azure DevOps to link to design files or documentation.

Break Down Large User Stories

If the user story is too large to be completed in a single sprint, break it down into smaller, more manageable stories or tasks.

Each story should represent a small, shippable increment of functionality.

Aim for stories that can be completed in 1-2 days so that progress is continuous, and the team can quickly adapt to feedback.

Estimate Effort and Size

Use the Story Points field in Azure DevOps to provide an estimation of the complexity or effort required to complete the story. This helps with sprint planning and capacity management.

Estimation can be done through methods like Planning Poker or Fibonacci sequence (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 5, 8), depending on your team’s preference.

Use tags to categorize stories or relate them to broader themes or epics.

Link the user story to related work items, such as tasks, bugs, or epics, to provide a complete picture of how the story fits into the larger project.

Use Discussion and Comments for Clarification

Encourage team members to use the Discussion section to ask questions, clarify doubts, or add comments during implementation. This helps keep communication centralized and ensures that all information related to the story is documented in one place.

Example User Story in Azure DevOps:

Title: View Order History

Description: As a logged-in customer, I want to view a list of my past orders so that I can track the status and details of my previous purchases.

Acceptance Criteria:

Given that I am logged in as a customer,
When I navigate to the "Order History" page,
Then I should see a list of my past orders including the order ID, date, status, and total amount.
And I should be able to click on an order to view detailed information, including itemized products and their prices.

Attachments: [Link to wireframe/design for Order History page]

Story Points: 5

Tags: Orders, Customer Portal, UI

Related Work Items:

  • Task: Create API endpoint for fetching order history
  • Task: Develop UI component for Order History page
  • Bug: Fix pagination issue on Order History list

Summary

A good user story in Azure DevOps is user-focused, clear, and actionable. It provides a simple and understandable description of what is needed, along with detailed acceptance criteria, design references, and links to related work.

By following this approach, the development team can better understand the requirements, deliver functionality that meets user needs, and ensure that the work is aligned with project goals.