STO: User Stories
Document Type
Code: STO
Name: User Stories
Domain: Customer & Value
Abstract
This specification defines the User Stories document type within the BSpec 1.0 Universal Business Specification Standard. It establishes normative requirements, structured templates, and implementation guidance for organizations documenting user stories within the customer-value domain. This specification enables systematic, machine-readable documentation that supports strategic planning, operational execution, and organizational alignment.
Purpose and Scope
The User Stories document captures individual requirements from the user perspective using the standard "As a... I want... So that..." format. Stories decompose features into implementable units of customer value.
Document Metadata Schema
yaml
---
id: STO-{story-identifier}
title: "User Story: [Story Summary]"
type: STO
status: Draft|Ready|In-Progress|Done|Accepted
version: 1.0.0
owner: Product-Owner|Business-Analyst
stakeholders: [development-team, product-team, qa-team]
domain: customer
priority: Must-Have|Should-Have|Could-Have|Won't-Have
scope: feature
horizon: immediate
visibility: internal
depends_on: [USE-*, PER-*]
enables: [REQ-*, TSK-*]
story_points: X # Complexity/effort estimate
business_value: X # Value score
risk_level: Low|Medium|High
success_criteria:
- "Story is testable and demonstrable"
- "Acceptance criteria are verifiable"
- "Story delivers customer value independently"
- "Implementation meets quality standards"
assumptions:
- "User need is validated"
- "Technical approach is feasible"
- "Dependencies are manageable"
epic: "Epic name or identifier"
theme: "Product theme or initiative"
review_cycle: sprint
---Content Structure Template
markdown
# User Story: [Story Summary]
## Story Statement
**As a** [type of user/persona]
**I want** [some goal/functionality]
**So that** [some benefit/value]
## Story Details
### Story Information
**Story ID**: STO-{identifier}
**Story Title**: [Concise, descriptive title]
**Story Type**: Feature|Bug|Technical|Spike
**Epic**: [Related epic or feature set]
**Theme**: [Product theme or initiative]
**Component**: [System/module affected]
### User Context
**Persona**: [Primary user persona for this story]
**User Role**: [Specific role or permission level]
**User Goal**: [What the user is trying to accomplish]
**User Context**: [Situation or circumstance when story applies]
### Business Context
**Business Value**: [Why this story matters to the business]
**Business Justification**: [ROI, customer request, competitive need]
**Business Priority**: Must-Have|Should-Have|Could-Have|Won't-Have
**Business Owner**: [Person accountable for business value]
## Acceptance Criteria
### Functional Criteria
**Scenario 1: [Main Success Path]**
- **Given** [initial context or preconditions]
- **When** [action or event occurs]
- **Then** [expected outcome or result]
- **And** [additional expected outcomes]
**Scenario 2: [Alternative Path]**
- **Given** [initial context or preconditions]
- **When** [action or event occurs]
- **Then** [expected outcome or result]
- **And** [additional expected outcomes]
**Scenario 3: [Edge Case or Exception]**
- **Given** [initial context or preconditions]
- **When** [action or event occurs]
- **Then** [expected outcome or result]
- **And** [additional expected outcomes]
### Non-Functional Criteria
**Performance Criteria**
- Response time: [specific timing requirements]
- Throughput: [volume or capacity requirements]
- Scalability: [growth or load requirements]
- Reliability: [uptime or availability requirements]
**Usability Criteria**
- User experience: [ease of use requirements]
- Accessibility: [accessibility compliance needs]
- Learning curve: [training or onboarding requirements]
- Error handling: [user-friendly error management]
**Security Criteria**
- Authentication: [user verification requirements]
- Authorization: [access control requirements]
- Data protection: [privacy and security needs]
- Audit trail: [logging and tracking requirements]
**Compliance Criteria**
- Regulatory: [compliance requirements]
- Standards: [technical or industry standards]
- Legal: [legal or contractual obligations]
- Policy: [organizational policy compliance]
## Definition of Done
### Development Criteria
- [ ] Code complete and reviewed
- [ ] Unit tests written and passing
- [ ] Integration tests written and passing
- [ ] Code coverage meets standards (X%)
- [ ] Security scan completed
- [ ] Performance testing completed
### Quality Criteria
- [ ] All acceptance criteria verified
- [ ] Manual testing completed
- [ ] Accessibility testing completed
- [ ] Browser/device compatibility verified
- [ ] Error handling tested
- [ ] Edge cases validated
### Documentation Criteria
- [ ] User documentation updated
- [ ] Technical documentation updated
- [ ] API documentation updated (if applicable)
- [ ] enable content updated
- [ ] Release notes prepared
### Deployment Criteria
- [ ] Feature flag implemented (if needed)
- [ ] Deployment scripts updated
- [ ] Monitoring/alerting configured
- [ ] Rollback plan prepared
- [ ] Production validation plan ready
## Story Dependencies
### Dependent Stories
**Blocking Dependencies**
- [STO-XXX]: [Story that must be completed first]
- [STO-XXX]: [Another blocking story]
**Related Dependencies**
- [STO-XXX]: [Related story that should be coordinated]
- [STO-XXX]: [Another related story]
### Technical Dependencies
**Infrastructure Dependencies**
- [Component/service that must be available]
- [API or integration that must be ready]
- [Database changes that must be deployed]
**Data Dependencies**
- [Required data sources]
- [Data migration needs]
- [Data quality requirements]
## User Interface Mockups
### UI Requirements
**Screen/Page Affected**: [Specific UI location]
**Layout Requirements**: [Design and layout specifications]
**Navigation Requirements**: [How users access this functionality]
**Responsive Requirements**: [Mobile/tablet/desktop considerations]
### Interaction Design
**User Interactions**
- [Specific user actions and system responses]
- [Input validation and feedback]
- [Error states and messaging]
- [Loading states and progress indicators]
**Wireframes/Mockups**
- [Reference to design files or sketches]
- [Link to prototype or interactive mockup]
- [Design system components to use]
## Technical Considerations
### Implementation Approach
**Technical Strategy**: [High-level approach to implementation]
**Architecture Impact**: [How this affects system architecture]
**Technology Choices**: [Specific technologies or frameworks]
**Integration Points**: [Systems or services that will integrate]
### Complexity Assessment
**Story Points**: [Effort estimation using team's scale]
**Complexity Factors**:
- Technical complexity: [What makes this technically challenging]
- Business complexity: [What makes business rules complex]
- Integration complexity: [What makes integrations challenging]
- Unknown factors: [Areas of uncertainty or risk]
### Risk Assessment
**Technical Risks**:
- [Risk 1]: [Description and mitigation approach]
- [Risk 2]: [Description and mitigation approach]
**Business Risks**:
- [Risk 1]: [Description and mitigation approach]
- [Risk 2]: [Description and mitigation approach]
**Timeline Risks**:
- [Risk 1]: [Description and mitigation approach]
- [Risk 2]: [Description and mitigation approach]
## Testing Strategy
### Test Cases
**Functional Testing**
- Happy path scenarios
- Alternative path scenarios
- Edge case scenarios
- Error condition scenarios
**Non-Functional Testing**
- Performance testing approach
- Security testing requirements
- Usability testing plan
- Accessibility testing needs
### Test Data Requirements
**Valid Test Data**
- [Specific data sets needed for testing]
- [Data generation or sourcing approach]
- [Data privacy and security considerations]
**Invalid Test Data**
- [Error condition data needs]
- [Boundary testing data]
- [Security testing data]
### Automation Strategy
**Automated Tests**
- Unit test coverage expectations
- Integration test requirements
- End-to-end test scenarios
- Regression test additions
**Manual Tests**
- Exploratory testing approach
- User acceptance testing plan
- Accessibility testing method
- Cross-browser testing needs
## Metrics and Validation
### Success Metrics
**Feature Adoption**
- Usage frequency: [How often feature is used]
- User adoption rate: [Percentage of users who adopt]
- Feature completion rate: [Success rate of feature usage]
**Business Impact**
- Business value delivered: [Quantifiable business benefit]
- Customer satisfaction: [User satisfaction scores]
- Support ticket reduction: [Impact on support volume]
- Process efficiency: [Time or cost savings]
**Technical Metrics**
- Performance measurements: [Response time, throughput]
- Error rates: [Frequency and types of errors]
- System impact: [Resource usage, stability]
### Validation Approach
**User Testing**
- User acceptance testing plan
- Beta testing approach
- Feedback collection method
- Success criteria validation
**A/B Testing** (if applicable)
- Test hypothesis
- Success metrics
- Test duration
- Decision criteria
## Notes and Assumptions
### Development Notes
**Implementation Notes**
- [Important technical considerations]
- [Known limitations or constraints]
- [Future enhancement opportunities]
**Design Notes**
- [UX/UI design considerations]
- [Accessibility requirements]
- [Design system compliance]
### Assumptions
**User Assumptions**
- [Assumptions about user behavior]
- [Assumptions about user knowledge/skills]
- [Assumptions about user environment]
**Technical Assumptions**
- [Assumptions about system capabilities]
- [Assumptions about data availability]
- [Assumptions about integration behavior]
**Business Assumptions**
- [Assumptions about business rules]
- [Assumptions about process flows]
- [Assumptions about organizational support]
## Story History
### Story Evolution
**Original Request**: [How this story originated]
**Refinement History**: [How story has been refined]
**Scope Changes**: [Any scope modifications]
**Priority Changes**: [Priority evolution over time]
### Decision Log
**Key Decisions**
- [Decision 1]: [What was decided and why]
- [Decision 2]: [What was decided and why]
- [Decision 3]: [What was decided and why]
**Alternative Approaches Considered**
- [Approach 1]: [Why it was not chosen]
- [Approach 2]: [Why it was not chosen]
## Validation
*Evidence that story delivers intended customer value*Quality Standards
Bronze Level (Minimum Viable)
- [ ] Story statement with As a/I want/So that format
- [ ] Basic acceptance criteria with Given/When/Then scenarios
- [ ] Story details including type, epic, and component
- [ ] All required metadata fields completed
Silver Level (Investment Ready)
- [ ] Comprehensive acceptance criteria with functional and non-functional aspects
- [ ] Complete definition of done with development, quality, and documentation criteria
- [ ] Detailed technical considerations with complexity and risk assessment
- [ ] Testing strategy with functional and non-functional approaches
- [ ] Success metrics and validation approach
- [ ] Story dependencies and technical constraints mapped
Gold Level (Operational Excellence)
- [ ] Dynamic story tracking with real-time progress metrics
- [ ] Automated acceptance criteria validation
- [ ] Advanced testing automation and continuous validation
- [ ] Story analytics with adoption and impact measurement
- [ ] Continuous story evolution based on user feedback
- [ ] Cross-functional story coordination and dependency management
Common Pitfalls
- Technical specification: Writing stories from system perspective rather than user benefit
- Vague acceptance criteria: Criteria that aren't testable or measurable
- Epic stories: Stories too large to complete in a single iteration
- Solution fixation: Describing how to build rather than what value to deliver
Success Patterns
- Value-focused: Clear connection between user action and business/personal value
- Testable criteria: Acceptance criteria that can be definitively verified
- Right-sized: Can be completed within a single iteration or sprint
- Independent: Can be developed and delivered independently of other stories
Relationship Guidelines
Typical Dependencies
- USE (Use Cases): Use cases provide context for story scenarios
- PER (Personas): Personas define the "As a" user types in stories
Typical Enablements
- REQ (Requirements): Stories drive detailed functional requirements
- TSK (Tasks): Stories break down into implementation tasks
Document Relationships
This document type commonly relates to:
- Depends on: USE (Use Cases), PER (Personas)
- Enables: REQ (Requirements), TSK (Tasks)
- Informs: Sprint planning, feature development, testing strategy
- Guides: Implementation priorities, acceptance testing, value delivery
Validation Checklist
- [ ] Story statement follows As a/I want/So that format
- [ ] Story details include ID, title, type, epic, theme, and component
- [ ] User and business context clearly defined
- [ ] Functional acceptance criteria with Given/When/Then scenarios
- [ ] Non-functional criteria covering performance, usability, security, compliance
- [ ] Complete definition of done with measurable criteria
- [ ] Story dependencies and technical constraints identified
- [ ] UI requirements and interaction design specified
- [ ] Technical considerations with complexity and risk assessment
- [ ] Testing strategy with functional and non-functional approaches
- [ ] Success metrics and validation approach defined
- [ ] Assumptions and development notes documented
- [ ] Story history and decision log maintained