User Stories, Epics, and Themes

Effective planning and estimation are crucial aspects of Agile project management. These practices ensure that teams can deliver valuable features incrementally while maintaining flexibility and adaptability. Key components of Agile planning and estimation include the following:

• user stories;
• epics;
• themes;
• story points;
• estimation techniques.

We will cover the last two components in the next chapter.

User Stories

User stories are short, simple descriptions of a feature told from the perspective of the user or customer. They focus on the who, what, and why, and are written in a format such as: "As a [type of user], I want [an action] so that [a benefit]." This helps the team understand the value of the feature and keeps the user at the center of development. Let's take a look at an example of a user story:

User Story 1.1: Register an account using email

Epics

Epics are large user stories that can be broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces. An epic represents a significant piece of functionality that may take multiple sprints to complete. By breaking down epics into smaller user stories, teams can deliver incremental value and make progress visible. Here is an example of an epic related to user registration and authentication:

Epic 1: User Registration and Authentication

• User Story 1.1: As a new user, I want to register an account using my email address, so that I can access personalized features of the application;
• User Story 1.2: As a registered user, I want to log in using my email and password, so that I can access my account securely;
• User Story 1.3: As a user, I want to reset my password if I forget it, so that I can regain access to my account.

Themes

Themes are groups of related user stories or epics that share a common objective. They help organize and prioritize work around broader goals or areas of functionality. Themes provide a higher-level view of the product's features and can help align the team's efforts with strategic business objectives. Let's now wrap up our example with account management by creating a respective theme:

Theme: User Account Management

Epic 1: User Registration and Authentication

• User Story 1.1: As a new user, I want to register an account using my email address, so that I can access personalized features of the application;
• User Story 1.2: As a registered user, I want to log in using my email and password, so that I can access my account securely;
• User Story 1.3: As a user, I want to reset my password if I forget it, so that I can regain access to my account.

Epic 2: User Profile Management

• User Story 2.1: As a user, I want to view my profile information, so that I can see my personal details and preferences;
• User Story 2.2: As a user, I want to update my profile information, so that I can keep my personal details up to date;
• User Story 2.3: As a user, I want to upload a profile picture, so that I can personalize my account.