Product Managers Are Not Solely Responsible for User Stories

Debunking the Myth: Only Product Managers Write User stories 🤔

User stories are a critical component of Agile development, but there seems to be a common misconception that it is the sole responsibility of Product Managers to write them. In reality, user stories can be written by anyone on the team, from developers to customer success representatives. So, let's debunk the myth that only Product Managers can write user stories and explore the benefits of a more collaborative approach.

What are User Stories?

Before we dive into the details of who can write user stories, let's first define what they are. User stories are a format for describing a feature or functionality that a user wants or needs. They are typically short and concise and written from the user's perspective. The purpose of user stories is to create a shared understanding of what the user wants and why, as well as to define the requirements necessary to deliver the feature or functionality.

The Benefits of Collaborative Story Writing

Collaborative story writing has several advantages over the traditional approach where only the Product Manager writes the stories. Here are some of the benefits:

1. Better Understanding of User Needs

When more team members are involved in writing user stories, there is a greater chance of capturing the true needs of the user. Each person brings a unique perspective to the table, which can help to identify gaps in understanding and lead to a more comprehensive and accurate description of the feature or functionality.

2. Faster Delivery of Features

With more people involved in writing user stories, the workload is spread out more evenly, which can lead to faster delivery of features. The Product Manager is no longer the bottleneck in the process, and the team can work together to write stories that are ready to be implemented.

3. Increased Ownership and Accountability

When team members are involved in writing user stories, they feel a greater sense of ownership and accountability for the features they are developing. They are no longer just building what the Product Manager has told them to build; they are actively involved in defining what needs to be built and why.

4. Reduced Risk of Miscommunication

When only the Product Manager writes the user stories, there is a greater risk of miscommunication between the Product Manager and the development team. Collaborative story writing can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that there are no misunderstandings about what needs to be built.

How to Write Clear and Concise User Stories

Now that we've established that anyone can write user stories, let's talk about how to write them. Here are some tips for writing clear and concise user stories:

1. Start with the User

The most important thing to remember when writing user stories is to start with the user. The story should be written from the perspective of the user and should describe what they want or need.

2. Use a Simple Format

User stories should be short and simple. They should follow a basic format that includes a description of the user, the user's goal, and the benefit that the user will receive from achieving their goal. For example, "As a frequent traveler, I want to be able to save my payment information so that I can book my flights faster."

3. Focus on the Outcome

User stories should focus on the outcome that the user wants to achieve, not the solution. It's up to the development team to come up with the best solution to achieve the outcome.

4. Avoid Technical Jargon

User stories should be written in plain language that anyone can understand. Avoid using technical jargon or acronyms that may not be familiar to everyone on the team.

5. Keep it Concise

User stories should be short and to the point. Aim for a maximum of two sentences to describe the user, their goal, and the benefit they will receive from the feature or functionality. 

Conclusion

Fact of the day: ANYONE can write a user story 🤯

However, it is the Product Manager who is ultimately responsible for the completeness of the story, the priority of the story, and the planned release of the functionality or feature. 

Ready to really dive into user stories and have that simple format with real life practice in your toolkit? Join us in our "How to Write Killer User Stories" course! We tackle a deep dive into all of these tips and MORE!