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Akshara Chandran
Akshara Chandran

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Let's talk about EPIC and USER STORIES

In Agile methodology, epics and user stories are both tools used to manage and prioritize requirements, but they serve different purposes and levels of granularity:

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  1. Epic:

    • An epic is a large, high-level requirement or feature that typically cannot be completed within a single iteration or sprint. It represents a significant chunk of work that may need to be broken down into smaller, more manageable user stories.
    • Epics provide a way to capture and track large-scale initiatives or goals for the product. They are often used for long-term planning and roadmap development.
    • Epics are usually defined at the beginning of a project or during the early stages of product planning. They help stakeholders understand the scope and direction of the project without getting into detailed implementation specifics.
    • Examples of epics might include "User Authentication System," "Enhanced Reporting Module," or "Mobile App Integration."
  2. User Story:

    • A user story is a small, concise description of a specific piece of functionality or requirement from an end user's perspective. It represents a single unit of work that can be completed within one iteration or sprint.
    • User stories typically follow a specific format, often referred to as the "As a [user role], I want [goal], so that [reason/benefit]." This format helps ensure that user stories are focused on delivering value to the end user.
    • User stories are used to capture detailed requirements and functionality, allowing Agile teams to prioritize and implement features incrementally based on user needs and feedback.
    • User stories are usually written collaboratively by the development team and stakeholders, often during backlog grooming or sprint planning sessions.
    • Examples of user stories might include "As a registered user, I want to reset my password so that I can regain access to my account" or "As an admin user, I want to generate monthly reports so that I can track project progress."

In summary, epics represent large-scale initiatives or features at a high level, while user stories are smaller, more detailed requirements that can be implemented within a single iteration. Epics help provide context and direction for the project, while user stories enable Agile teams to deliver incremental value to users in a focused and iterative manner.

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