User stories are a valuable instrument in the process of software development. Even though they are primarily written for specific features, you can also write them for bugs. Without further ado, here are some tips on how to write user stories for bugs.
#1 Prioritise the Main Goal
When addressing bugs and managing defects in the software you are developing, the main goal is always to deliver the best product possible to your intended audience. But because user stories are utilized in the agile approach, companies often end up thinking about agility rather than the quality of the product itself.
Always make sure that everything you are doing is helping you get closer to your main goal. When necessary, take a step back and look at the big picture. You need to fulfill customer needs, and writing user stories for bugs could help you achieve this.
#2 Understand User Stories
Speaking of user stories, before you start writing them for bugs, you need to understand how they work and how you can use them specifically for correcting defects and resolving issues with the software.
User stories are not always used for bugs which is why you should first ask yourself whether this is the right method to use in your situation. If writing user stories for bugs will help you deliver a high-quality product, then you should definitely use this technique.
#3 Make an Outline
Before you write the user story itself, you should first make an outline for it. Always treat each separate bug as its user story, especially if the bug takes longer to fix. On the other hand, if you have several simple bugs, you can combine them into one user story.
If you don’t want to make an outline very detailed, you can simply jot down some ideas and main points you have for the user story you want to write. Then, organize them into a logical progression (e.g. chronologically, thematically).
#4 Consider Outsourcing
One more thing you should do before you start writing your user story is consider outsourcing. If you don’t have the right skills or experience to write detailed user stories, it could be the right decision to hire an expert writer to help you.
You can find professional writers at the custom writing review site. Connect with one of the writers and ask them to help you or let them write the user story based on the information you provide.
#5 Explain Steps One by One
Once you actually start writing your user story, try to explain everything in as much detail as possible, but don’t explain obvious things. The best approach is to explain each step one by one so that they can be reproduced.
Explain to the developer what the user wants to do and what they want to avoid. For example, a user wants to log in from their smartphone without seeing a squished version of the desktop page. This clearly points out what should be prevented and fixed.
#6 Utilise “Without”
Using “without” in your descriptions is by far one of the best ways to deliver your message effectively. You will be explaining what the user doesn’t want to see, do, and experience by using “without” in your user story.
In the earlier example, using “without” could help you explain what the user doesn’t want to see (a squished version of the desktop page). It is both straightforward and detailed, so the developer will know what to direct their attention to.
#7 Invert When Appropriate
Last but not least, you can use inversion when it is appropriate. For instance, by using inversion in your acceptance criteria, you can make the goals of the user story more understandable to the developer.
When taking the example from above, you could make one of the criteria something along the lines of “the page needs to be optimized for devices with different screen sizes.” It is an easy way to make your user story more actionable.
Final Words
You can write user stories for bugs to make your software development process easier. Use the tips in this article to help you improve your writing skills and create detailed and helpful user stories for bugs.
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