User Stories: What they are, how to write them, and why they work.

Mike Cohn talks user stories at the Norwegian Developers Conference June 6, 2012.
00:00 What are user stories?
00:30 Problems user stories solve
06:40 3 Cs of user stories
13:04 Sample user stories
17:12 Conditions of Satisfaction
22:33 The product backlog iceberg
33:19 User story writing workshops
36:22 Why user stories
36:32 Shift from writing to talking
39:56 Words are imprecise
42:50 More reasons user stories work
47:46 Stories support participatory design
50:52 User stories: Conversations over cards
Want to dive deeper into user stories? Come to one of Mike Cohn's live, online better user stories courses. Learn more: learn.mountaingoatsoftware.co...

[@rashitagurawalia3696]

Thank you Mike. You made me understand it in the simplest possible way.

[@CanalAgilizando]

This is about 8 years old now and still being very useful and complete. Thanks!

[@EvolvingAgilist]

This is about 5 years old now and yet this is still the best.

[@cool.gurudatt.kunchurkunch3083]

L

[@lekanoyeleke1230]

I agree, I am currently using lessons learnt from this video to design a user story for an application.

[@markcorrigan293]

I totally agree with you. In 2021 I believe Mike is still bang on the money. What I find interesting is a new trend of trying to use Kanban but without any planning. I.e. pull solutions through the system. Developoment that pays talks to this in a latest video where Gary pins down the 7 f's. I.e. Foundation, Flex, Focus, Flow, Fuel, FAREWELL (TO PLANNING), Fine Tune. I watched a few teams trying to get this to work and production fell right off. I.e. you must have a project process (scrum or etc.) in order to "mind the gap" and user stories are the best way I know to pin down requirements. Mike's way with the 3 c's really "crushes" how to do it well. He has many books and these are all highly recommended.

[@amypellegrini1732]

This video clarifies so many things I've seen being applied but never truly understood. Now I "got it", it's so sad to think so many people is still following procedures and templates without getting the rationale behind them, particularly the backlog grooming part. I think an essential aspect many teams miss about Agile is picking the smaller tasks which we know we can implement in a couple of weeks, so that we can actually deliver them. The way I've seen it done is a bunch of seniors adding specs to the user stories many times carrying them from one sprint to another, which kind of defeats the purpose, turning the process into a "Kanagilebanscrumfall" (notice the use of "Agile ban"). Thanks!

[@timd249]

This was crucially helpful watching this today. As an agile coach / PO for almost as long ago as your video was posted, this is by far the best breakdown on this topic I’ve seen... if only I’d seen it at my start lol... no worries though starting tomorrow this will be applied in many productive ways - thanks mike!

[@lanmeister9334]

Hey Mike, I am interning in Product Management at a big ERP software provider and am new to User Stories. Dude, this talk is insane! Among all the videos on KZbin I checked out, you make this understandable and easy to follow. So much fun watching this, thank you!!

[@jimholland8112]

Mike - Great presentation and refresher from past courses of yours. Especially enjoyed, "the balance between business and technology." Oh so true!

[@WHYCANTIFINDMYMONEY]

OMG Mike, you are a student life savier!!!! The best lecture EVER about user stories. Thank you SO MUCH. Greetings from Brazil!

[@kmacdowe]

Mike, thanks for sharing. It is nice to see a presentation from an obviously experienced professional that isn't simply selling something and includes practical insight.

[@Nk-ti5hv]

This is the best video I found so far on you tube on user stories. Mike,You explained all very well I dont think it can be done better than that.

[@shaneslynch]

Transitioning to an Agile project for the 1st time in the near future and this User Stories presentation is very helpful. Looking forward to reviewing more of your videos.

[@gopalreddy6801]

Amazing and most effective explanation of User Stories with real and practical examples. It helped me a lot .Thanks a lot

[@roottmp]

Awesome presentation! Watched this one because i've been not using user stories in years and just started using it again, really great reminder and actually quit a few thinks I'm certain I would not have considered before. Next week I'm planning to look for more video's from you, this was both helpfull and entertaining, thanks!

[@giovannisumano7474]

Amazingly insightful, and easy to understand. Thank you very much Mr. Cohn. You have an astounding teaching ability.

[@CHeRKeSSS00]

It's the best video around on writing user stories !!! It made me watch all the others videos of you Mike :) I am glad that I came across this beauty...

[@fchaudh2]

Mike: Very useful information shared here. Very helpful for newer scrum teams. Thanks for sharing!

[@prathapprakashrao]

Mike, Thanks a lot for this great content. Whoever watch this video would know how to write user stories and why it is so important. Thanks again.

[@VijayWade1]

Thanks Mike for such a knowledgeable session! I anyways like and learn through your books, for the first time I went through your video and got equally impressed and got to know new things. I specially liked your Balance between development team and Management in this video. Keep posting and help us gain knowledge.

[@adriennekuatse583]

This is 6 years old this year - but STILL informative. Thanks Mike

[@ImranShaikh-rp8qb]

Hi Mike, you are a great presenter and the way you explain things is so simple. Great job mate!!

[@Andrey.Elagin]

Mike, that's a great one. it is easy to follow, covers all key aspects in easy and very nice way, nice argumentation and great examples from the real life! Thanks

[@kumarswaminathans]

Very Informative, Mike. Captivating Presentation, I never left my seat for this 52 mins. Thanks a lot.

[@guanacoyyz9646]

Thanks Mike for this great video! I deployed a big project in Waterfall (for over 2 years) and now im only working in Agile. Really appreciste your video!

[@reginawilliams1453]

This is a great refresher. Always good to get back to the basics no matter how long you'e been using Scrum.

[@Bigpap134]

Mike, Great presentation. Thank you, Tim S.

[@sau5700]

The most amazing session on user stories!

[@aartipatange9190]

Excellent video Sir.Very thankful to you.

[@abdzigner8609]

Thanks a lot for these precious knowledges. I am about to manage my first project and this helps a lot.

[@Azapata1219]

great analogies mike! you are now one of my favorite web speakers and instructor.

[@aawar9]

Thanks Mike ... great presentation... your way of using the card is an idea I am going to take and use

[@RC-qx4hs]

Dear Mike, great talk! Please do more and more and more :)

[@choudharyparul]

Wonderful Presentation Mike ! Helped me revise my concepts on user stories...

[@vchillara]

Very useful and wonderfully presented!! Thanks Mike.

[@tonyjoanes]

I keep coming back to this, been using scrum for 10 years but always learn more with each viewing

[@agamillward4399]

A great, clear & well balanced video. I love it.

[@Katie-mi9ow]

So helpful! Thanks Mike!

[@ZeySeeker]

Thanks a lot, This is my first time to deal with user story as a collecting requirements technique and sure your presentation was very helpful

[@kavitakhurana3343]

Great presentation n great way of explanation! Loved it!

[@cassondrad2280]

Excellent. Well put. Very useful. Thank you

[@majoromer]

Excellent rhythm,,, clear instructions. Things Do make sense here..!! :)

[@dvtwyford]

Excellent presentation Mike

[@starpmaminul]

thanks Mike, It has been a great relief

[@MountainGoatSoftware]

I'm glad it was helpful.

[@jingcao602]

Watched a few years ago reviewed so still learned a lot.

[@JOHNSMUTHU]

Very informative and very well presented. Thanks...

[@rubingt4411]

hello Dear Mike, This was an excellent piece of work. thank you.

[@NigelStratton]

Starting out learning stories and this was an excellent and informative presentation.

[@anamariaferraz1620]

Very nice talk. I love it. Thanks for sharing that.

[@sh0cksmu]

Still relevant today and very informative.

[@SK-en8vu]

Thanks for the great presentation!.

[@romaindewolff]

Very nice talk! Thanks for sharing.

[@themortgagechic_ca]

Simply Awesome, will love to listen to you more often

[@vijayavijaya3125]

Great presentation with apt examples

[@emilylee9867]

clear, simple and understandable point of view, thanks for sharing! Will keep looking your videos!!

[@micanonmedia3623]

Thank you sir Mike! This is helpful!

[@stutzman999]

Really, really great presentation! I look forward to watching more!

[@CatherineKarena]

Such a good talk, still relevant

[@NiroshanMadampitige]

Great insights and I was able to use this in my coaching sessions and mentoring teams..

[@ujjal-ghosal]

Thank you. Great content and you are brilliant presenter!

[@kuppapavan]

Great Presentation thanks. Loved it

[@TimAllardyce]

Mike, thanks for the video - great presentation!

[@curtislayton9412]

Thanks mike you are a true professional.

[@princeisaac4532]

Thanks Mike this is a Life changer

[@janardhanreddy9849]

very nice presentation Mr. Mike you did great job

[@stephenstout7927]

Awesome video. I think I might show this to one of my new scrum teams. You explained it a lot better than I could!

[@stephenstout7927]

You're welcome. I am a really big fan of your posts, books, and lessons. They have helped me immensely in my professional development as a ScrumMaster. Whenever I have any doubts about something to try with a scrum team I always look at your material for reference (for example only give points for completed work). Thank you for all the contributions that you provide to the agile/scrum community.

[@stellaconcepts]

I think its important to always put the So That clause. It reminds everyone of the reason why you're doing something and the value delivered to the client. So that is the part that we're being judged on - so make sure So that is defined!

[@stellaconcepts]

Sure Mike... Can certainly feel contrived. Thats for the vid btw. As a KZbin User, I am required to login, So that I can access Mike Cohn's vids! :) There is always value in logging in... and if you can't think of it. In my workshops I teach ALWAYS put the So That. And think HARD about the So That (The better the So That, the easier the Product Owner can prioritise)

[@stellaconcepts]

*Thats = Thanks

[@TruthSeeker3758]

Superb...Thank you so much.

[@judywawira]

Awesome resource!

[@harshitaj24]

thanks mike. very useful!!

[@jordanpeng3061]

Good presentation about user story! Very useful!

[@agatamalczewska3203]

It's a great video! Thank you!

[@oguzhanyldrm8179]

great talk, thank you

[@Billytranffff]

Thank you. it is really useful.

[@amineoueslati3715]

Awesome, many thanks

[@karanshetty9589]

great presentation Mike, really informative specially for a beginner like myself.

[@GlenUK1]

Great video, thanks.

[@stebolavirus]

Super informative! I worked at a global tech company for 8 years working in and on software products and never understood it clearly

[@MountainGoatSoftware]

Thanks, Steven. I'm glad this was helpful.

[@CecilDSouza]

I am watching the lecture on this subject and I am enjoying it. A good introduction to stories with examples. Perfect lecturing - no aahs and mmhs and oohs. Can you guide me as to how to obtain the PDU as well? - Got it!!

[@saravananb3607]

its very informative. Thanks

[@stefanomeola6666]

Excellent thank you

[@frankshines-stroudfamily]

Well done!

[@christopherjoydugtong1304]

Thank you very much.

[@zeynepyalcn2679]

great talk on use case. It really helps me to make a great project during my internship.

[@zeynepyalcn2679]

Mike Cohn thank u😊

[@omerhatim4326]

Thank you Mr. Mike

[@MountainGoatSoftware]

You're welcome.

[@parminderkaur157]

Very informative..

[@theaayushsingh]

its a very helpful video for me.

[@fdama]

Wow, very informative. Just what I needed. Thanks.

[@ericcartmansh]

Fantastic video Mike. How did you make these slides - what tools/template etc? They are very creative and unique

[@cascarrmathias7240]

Thank you Mike, I received an email from my professor making reference to your book. I didn't waste a min to look for it and read it, I must tell you it helps me understand my project / coursework better.

[@aypahyo]

I have a story of inprecise words and a restaurant. I used to be a vegan and I ordered vegetarian dumplings in London. When they came I noticed there was pork in them. I challenged the waiter why they wrote vegetarian next to it. He replied it was not a lot of meat and that would count as vegetarian for them. The point is that although I thought I knew what I would get I did not get what was written due to a difference in perception. I we would have chatted a bit more before I ordered we could have cleared that right up.

[@lucaippoliti1023]

Not only very informative and great presentation, but I can also earn 1 PDU for free for my PMI-ACP certification. What a deal, THAN YOU Mike!

[@ajaysinghrathod6768]

Good Point covers for User Stories...

[@manmohansingh9109]

Wonderful session. One query..we said in product backlog low priority stories (lower in the pyramid), can be of big size. We can break them when they are ready to work on. In this can case the estimation or project (which we get from sum story points of all stories) be accurate(or near to accurate) , as big stories may not to estimated properly.

[@ionlungu]

1000 likes thanks a lot! The book is great!

[@MountainGoatSoftware]

Thanks, Ion. I appreciate it

[@AhmadAlRifai198]

appreciated

[@resmijeevan3428]

Hi Mike,Great Presentation. Have a question. When exactly does the User Story Workshops take place? And also Product backlog Grooming?

[@lemon2524]

Nice.

[@khaledselim113]

thanks

[@Apocalypz]

You *magician* ! Orbitz now offers cruise ship bookings.

[@ChrisKorakas]

when are you in Brussels/ Europe next time ? Would love to follow a training / conference

[@ntombizonkenkosi4113]

Thank you

[@MountainGoatSoftware]

You're welcome.