Systems, Architecture and Systems Architecture

The quality of user stories is critical to the architecture of cloud systems. Good user stories guarantee that architectural choices are grounded in precise, well-articulated requirements, therefore reducing uncertainty and the possibility of expensive rework.

Solutions architects may create systems that are more resilient and scalable by making sure user stories are accurate and comprehensive. This will help them develop systems that are better matched with business demands. According to Lucassen et al. (2015), the following Class Diagram represents the structure and relationships of a User Story within a software development context, within an agile framework.

This UML diagram helps to ensure that User Stories are well-structured and consistent, allowing for clear communication and understanding among team members. The diagram emphasizes the relationships between the User Story, the roles or personas it serves, the higher-level Epic it may be part of, and the specific format or structure it follows. Additionally, it details how the actions (Means) and outcomes (End) of the User Story are composed, including optional elements like clarifications, quality metrics, and dependencies. Below it is presented the break down of the components and their relationships:

User Story

Central to the diagram is the User Story entity, which typically represents a specific requirement or feature from the user’s perspective in agile software development. A User Story often follows the format: As a [Role], I want [Action], so that [Outcome].

Relationships:

• Role: A User Story is linked to one Role (1..*) meaning a User Story must be associated with at least one Role.
• Epic: A User Story can belong to an Epic (1..*), which means multiple User Stories can be grouped under a broader feature or larger piece of work known as an Epic. An Epic is the parent class and User Story is the child class, indicating that User Stories are specific instances or specializations of Epics.
• Format: There is a 1:1 relationship between a User Story and its Format, indicating that each User Story follows a specific structure or format.

Role

Represents the user or persona for whom the User Story is written.
has_parent: This indicates that Roles can have a hierarchical relationship (0..1), where one Role might be a parent of another, implying a form of role inheritance or dependency.

Epic

An Epic is a large body of work that can be broken down into multiple User Stories. The “has” relationship here suggests that an Epic contains one or more User Stories.

Format

Indicates the structure or template that the User Story must follow.
The diagram indicates a mandatory relationship (1..1) between a User Story and its Format, meaning each User Story adheres to exactly one format.

Means

The Means entity seems to capture the specific components of a User Story related to the “how” aspect.

Components:

Adjective, Indirect Object, Subject, Action Verb, Direct Object
These elements represent the grammatical parts of a User Story, particularly focusing on the actions and outcomes. They are tied to the Means, indicating how the action or the requirement is described. Each of these components (Subject, Action Verb, etc.) has a relationship to the Means entity (0..1), meaning they may or may not be present.

End

This represents the outcome or goal of the User Story.

Components:

• Clarifications: Additional details or explanations.
• Quality: Measures or criteria that define the success of the outcome.
• Dependency: Any dependencies that must be resolved or acknowledged to achieve the outcome.

These are optional components (0..*), meaning there can be multiple clarifications, qualities, or dependencies, or none at all.

The diagram illustrates how a User Story is composed and related to other elements in a structured way, aligning with Agile practices. It shows the User Story’s connection to a Role, how it fits into an Epic, and the required format. The Means and End entities break down the grammatical and functional components of the User Story, ensuring it is well-defined and complete. This structure helps maintain clarity and consistency in how User Stories are created and managed within a project.

Reference

G. Lucassen, F. Dalpiaz, J. M. E. M. van der Werf and S. Brinkkemper, “Forging high-quality User Stories: Towards a discipline for Agile Requirements,” 2015 IEEE 23rd International Requirements Engineering Conference (RE), Ottawa, ON, Canada, 2015, pp. 126-135, doi: 10.1109/RE.2015.7320415.