Event Modeling is Easy Story Identification Technique

For those new to Scrum, Story identification can seem intimidating. Even if you follow our guidelines in Chapter 3 – GSD Gold Approach to Story Writing, you may still have writer’s block. Event modeling is one of my favorite go to methods that get my Story writing juices flowing.

Every Story has a beginning, middle and ending. The Event kicks off the beginning of the process we want implemented, the Story Description outlines the what’s and why’s of the process, and the Acceptance Criteria instructs the reader how to tell if the Story has a happy or sad ending.

Simple.

It all starts with the Event.

Once you know the highest priority Epics and Component deliverables that must be implemented first, then brainstorm and list all the reasons why the Customer accesses the online portion of your application. Because I’ve previously written about the Customer Account Maintenance Component of an Online Banking app in my post Write Better Stories, I’ll use that same example, but approach Story identification from an Event Modeling perspective.

Here are just a few Customer Account Maintenance Online Events:

  • Customer receives Welcome Letter and wants to setup Online Access
  • Customer wants to setup Mobile Access
  • Customer wants to update personal information, such as physical addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, etc.
  • Customer cannot remember password
  • Customer wants to change password

Each one of these Events represents at least one Story that starts with “As an online banking customer, I want to…so that I can…”

Once you’ve exhausted all the Events that describe reasons why the Customer wants access the application, then brainstorm all back-end processes needed to support the online ones.

Some back-end Events could include:

  • New Customer application approval generates Welcome Letter to access new account
  • Customer account password expires
  • Customer incorrect password attempts triggers online account lock
  • By viewing the application from the Customer perspective, isn’t it easier to identify what Stories to write?

What tips and techniques do you use to get your Story writing juices flowing? Do share!

Cynthia Kahn

Cynthia Kahn

 

Cynthia Kahn
CynthiaK@gsd.guru  503.799.5500