Agile & Delivery playbook/Module 4 · Backlog & requirements

Day 34 / 100 · Backlog & requirements · Story splitting patterns

Slice it vertically.

Mike Cohn's SPIDR gives five ways to split a big story into smaller ones that each still deliver something usable.

S

Spike

Split off the research into a timeboxed spike (Day 38).

P

Paths

Split by path: happy path first, alternatives later.

I

Interfaces

Web first, mobile app later. One channel at a time.

D

Data

Support one data type or source first, add others later.

R

Rules

Build the core first, add business rules and limits later.

✕

Not by layer

A “UI story” and a “database story” deliver nothing alone.

Source: Mountain Goat Software: Mike Cohn, 'Five Simple but Powerful Ways to Split User Stories' ↗

Slice vertically. Every slice usable.