Agile product ownership for backlog management and sprint execution. Covers user story writing, acceptance criteria, sprint planning, and velocity tracking. Use for writing user stories, creating acceptance criteria, planning sprints, estimating story points, breaking down epics, or prioritizing backlog.
Agile product ownership for backlog management and sprint execution. Covers user story writing, acceptance criteria, sprint planning, and velocity tracking. Use for writing user stories, creating acceptance criteria, planning sprints, estimating story points, breaking down epics, or prioritizing backlog.
triggers
["write user story","create acceptance criteria","plan sprint","estimate story points","break down epic","prioritize backlog","sprint planning","INVEST criteria","Given When Then","user story template","sprint capacity","velocity tracking"]
Agile Product Owner
Backlog management and sprint execution toolkit for product owners, including user story generation, acceptance criteria patterns, sprint planning, and velocity tracking.
Create INVEST-compliant user stories from requirements:
Identify the persona (who benefits from this feature)
Define the action or capability needed
Articulate the benefit or value delivered
Write acceptance criteria using Given-When-Then
Estimate story points using Fibonacci scale
Validate against INVEST criteria
Add to backlog with priority
Validation: Story passes all INVEST criteria; acceptance criteria are testable
User Story Template
As a [persona],
I want to [action/capability],
So that [benefit/value].
Example:
As a marketing manager,
I want to export campaign reports to PDF,
So that I can share results with stakeholders who don't have system access.
Story Types
Type
Template
Example
Feature
As a [persona], I want to [action] so that [benefit]
As a user, I want to filter search results so that I find items faster
Improvement
As a [persona], I need [capability] to [goal]
As a user, I need faster page loads to complete tasks without frustration
Bug Fix
As a [persona], I expect [behavior] when [condition]
As a user, I expect my cart to persist when I refresh the page
Enabler
As a developer, I need to [technical task] to enable [capability]
As a developer, I need to implement caching to enable instant search
Persona Reference
Persona
Typical Needs
Context
End User
Efficiency, simplicity, reliability
Daily feature usage
Administrator
Control, visibility, security
System management
Power User
Automation, customization, shortcuts
Expert workflows
New User
Guidance, learning, safety
Onboarding
Acceptance Criteria Patterns
Write testable acceptance criteria using Given-When-Then format.
Given-When-Then Template
Given [precondition/context],
When [action/trigger],
Then [expected outcome].
Examples:
Given the user is logged in with valid credentials,
When they click the "Export" button,
Then a PDF download starts within 2 seconds.
Given the user has entered an invalid email format,
When they submit the registration form,
Then an inline error message displays "Please enter a valid email address."
Given the shopping cart contains items,
When the user refreshes the browser,
Then the cart contents remain unchanged.
Acceptance Criteria Checklist
Each story should include criteria for:
Category
Example
Happy Path
Given valid input, When submitted, Then success message displayed
Validation
Should reject input when required field is empty
Error Handling
Must show user-friendly message when API fails
Performance
Should complete operation within 2 seconds
Accessibility
Must be navigable via keyboard only
Minimum Criteria by Story Size
Story Points
Minimum AC Count
1-2
3-4 criteria
3-5
4-6 criteria
8
5-8 criteria
13+
Split the story
See references/user-story-templates.md for complete template library.
Epic Breakdown Workflow
Break epics into deliverable sprint-sized stories:
Define epic scope and success criteria
Identify all personas affected by the epic
List all capabilities needed for each persona
Group capabilities into logical stories
Validate each story is ≤8 points
Identify dependencies between stories
Sequence stories for incremental delivery
Validation: Each story delivers standalone value; total stories cover epic scope
Epic: User Dashboard (34 points total)
├── US-001: View key metrics (5 pts) - End User
├── US-002: Customize layout (5 pts) - Power User
├── US-003: Export data to CSV (3 pts) - End User
├── US-004: Share with team (5 pts) - End User
├── US-005: Set up alerts (5 pts) - Power User
├── US-006: Filter by date range (3 pts) - End User
├── US-007: Admin overview (5 pts) - Admin
└── US-008: Enable caching (3 pts) - Enabler
Sprint Planning Workflow
Plan sprint capacity and select stories:
Calculate team capacity (velocity × availability)
Review sprint goal with stakeholders
Select stories from prioritized backlog
Fill to 80-85% of capacity (committed)
Add stretch goals (10-15% additional)
Identify dependencies and risks
Break complex stories into tasks
Validation: Committed points ≤85% capacity; all stories have acceptance criteria
Capacity Calculation
Sprint Capacity = Average Velocity × Availability Factor
Example:
Average Velocity: 30 points
Team availability: 90% (one member partially out)
Adjusted Capacity: 27 points
Committed: 23 points (85% of 27)
Stretch: 4 points (15% of 27)
# Generate stories from sample epic
python scripts/user_story_generator.py
# Plan sprint with capacity
python scripts/user_story_generator.py sprint 30
Generates:
INVEST-compliant user stories
Given-When-Then acceptance criteria
Story point estimates (Fibonacci scale)
Priority assignments
Sprint loading with committed and stretch items
Sample Output
USER STORY: USR-001
========================================
Title: View Key Metrics
Type: story
Priority: HIGH
Points: 5
Story:
As a End User, I want to view key metrics and KPIs
so that I can save time and work more efficiently
Acceptance Criteria:
1. Given user has access, When they view key metrics, Then the result is displayed
2. Should validate input before processing
3. Must show clear error message when action fails
4. Should complete within 2 seconds
5. Must be accessible via keyboard navigation
INVEST Checklist:
✓ Independent
✓ Negotiable
✓ Valuable
✓ Estimable
✓ Small
✓ Testable
