For BAs, requirements are the important part of our work. Use cases and user stories are two popular methods we use to gather and communicate these requirements. While both aim to guide software development, there are key differences between them.
Use Case:
A use case provides a detailed description of how a user interacts with a system to achieve a specific goal. It outlines the steps, actions, and expected outcomes of the user's interaction with the system.
Use cases are typically written in a structured format, including a title, actors (users or external systems), preconditions, main flow, alternative flows, and postconditions.
They focus on capturing the interactions between the user and the system, including any alternative flows or exceptions that may occur. This gives a comprehensive view of the system's behavior and can be used to validate system functionality against user requirements. Use cases are often used in traditional software development methodologies and are well-suited for complex systems with multiple actors and detailed scenarios
For a product search function on Shopee, the use case would be titled "Search."
User Story:
In contrast, a user story is a simple description of a system feature or functionality from the user's perspective. It follows a simple structure: "As a [role], I want [feature], so that [goal]." User stories are concise and capture the essence of what the user needs. When writing user stories, use everyday language and avoid technical jargon.
User stories focus on the user's goals and motivations, emphasizing why a feature exists.
For the same search feature, the user story would be: "As a user, I want to be able to search for products so that I can quickly find what I'm looking for."
When to Use Use Cases or User Stories:
The choice depends on the project and the level of detail required.
Use case: Well-suited for describing complex system behavior, detailed scenarios, and specific requirement validation. They are often used in traditional projects like Waterfall.
User story: Provide a user-centric approach to gathering requirements, allowing for iterative development and continuous feedback. They are commonly used in Agile projects.
In Practice:
Many companies use user stories to list or name features. However, when it comes to detailed documentation and implementation, they switch to a use case writing style.
Conclusion:
Both use cases and user stories are popular methods for describing system behavior. Use cases are more detailed and provide a comprehensive view of system interactions, while user stories are concise and focus on user needs. The choice between the two depends on the project model and the level of detail required in BA documentation.
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