Effective story slicing

Neil Killick, Agile Coach / Trainerneilkillick.com / iterative.com.au neil_killick

Copyright Neil Killick, Iterative, 2014

effectivestory slicing

Why slice stories

Here’s why

Slicing creates options and exposes goals from solutions

Why should we makeexplicit slicing policies?

● Better definition of “ready” and “done”● Measure cycle times for work types● We can inspect and adapt policies● Try and reduce instance of outliers

Shared definitions of work types are important

User registration

Forgotten password

Email user

“Theme”

“Feature”

“Story”

Slice byAcceptance Criteria

● Given Bob is a registered user,When Bob logs inThen he should be logged in.

● Given Bob is logged in,When Bob chooses ProfileThen he should see his profile.

Each user scenario isits own story

Keep vertically slicing (user end-to-end functionality)

Workflow steps

Variation in business rules

Happy/unhappy flow

Input options/platform

Data types/parameters

CRUD operations

Test scenarios

Roles/personas

Other ways to slice

● “Implement the 1st X, then the rest”● Delay performance considerations● Delay UI considerations● Look for “and”, “or” in scenarios● Browser compatibility● Usability

Hamburger Method

Step 1 - Identify tasks

● Story: Contact dormant customers by email

● Accomplishing all tasks would meet goal of story

Lettuce

Tomato

Burger

Onions

Tomato sauce

Vertical slice

Step 2 - Identify options

Step 3 - Trim the burger options

Trimmed, ready for 1st bite

Step 4 - Take the 1st bite

Each bite is a story the PO may or may not want done● Keep taking a bite until “good enough”● Iterative = Be open to rework● Horizontal slices don’t deliver value● Conversations with the PO are key○ Communicate technical risk○ Focus on early value delivery

Group ActivityMake your own burger!

● Story: I want customers to be able to buy my artwork from my website

● Use the Hamburger Method to slice this story● You have 15 mins to:○ Identify 5 or 6 tasks/stories○ Identify options for each in order of quality

Neil Killick, Agile Coach / Trainerneilkillick.com / iterative.com.au neil_killick

Copyright Neil Killick, Iterative, 2013

References

● 8 useful strategies for splitting large user stories (and a cheat sheet) - http://bit.ly/1jrdWOY

● Splitting user stories: the hamburger method - http://bit.ly/1eL8HHW

● Splitting user stories by the quality of the solution - http://bit.ly/1ejFRZ3