Forge-User-Story-Definition

Identify the user who benefits, define their goal, and state the expected value using the format: As a [user type], I want [capability], so that [outcome]. Then attach supporting requirements, dependencies, and constraints to keep the story traceable.

Good user stories are valuable, understandable, focused on one outcome, testable, and traceable to originating requirements. They describe who needs something, what they need, and why it provides value, without prescribing technical implementation.

Avoid user stories when requirements are not yet understood, the work is purely technical infrastructure, a detailed technical design is required, or the activity is documentation maintenance only. Resolve ambiguity first before story creation.

User stories define the user, goal, and value, while acceptance criteria define the objective completion conditions for that story. Stories feed directly into acceptance criteria definition, keeping implementation verifiable against the original intent.

No. User stories express functionality from the user's perspective but do not replace requirements documentation, define technical implementation, decide architecture, or create test cases. They complement requirements by translating them into units of delivery.