User Stories

User stories are concise descriptions of functionality from the user's perspective. They capture who needs something, what they need, and why - without prescribing how to build it. Good user stories enable teams to break large features into estimable, deliverable increments while maintaining focus on user value.

When to Use

• After PRD approval, when breaking down features for implementation
• During sprint planning to create actionable work items
• When writing tickets for engineering teams
• When communicating requirements to stakeholders in accessible terms
• When prioritizing a backlog based on user value

When NOT to Use

• You need deeper, QA-ready Given/When/Then coverage for a single story or slice -> use deliver-acceptance-criteria
• You need the feature-wide catalog of boundary conditions and failure scenarios -> use deliver-edge-cases
• The feature itself is not yet specified -> use deliver-prd first; stories should trace back to documented requirements
• You want refinement-session outcomes (estimates, scope decisions, open questions) -> use iterate-refinement-notes