Example Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge

I work for a software development company which has implemented an agile

methodology for development. Sometimes I am the product owner and I need to communicate to the scrum team which are the goals and objectives of app or piece of software we have to develop for the customer. Most of the times are apps which have two flavors, the customer and the provider side. On every scrum sprint I need to transmit the big picture to the team, the expected outcomes for the users, the calls to action, expectations.

Selection

I have found story telling through user stories to be the best way to transmit to the

team what the customer wants and how the users will use the app, how they will be feeling about it and which needs/ issues the app will solve for them. Specially important is why they need the app.

Application

First is to define the project area creating a positioning statement which should include

who will use the app and the need the app will help to fulfill and how the app is different from other apps. Then the “personas”are identified and a detailed persona profile is

written. This profile needs to detail the tell story of the individual, who is, what he/she does when facing a situation the app will solve. What he/she thinks, sees, feels, does.

Then some scenarios are created with current alternatives and a value proposition the

app will give.

With this a user story which flows out from the persona is created for the first sprint

and storyboards are created.

And for following sessions child stories derived form this user story are created to

continue the app development.

Insight

With user stories the scrum team identifies the objectives of the project, and they feel

engaged as they understand the needs, and feelings of the persons who will be using the app. It really generates an impact on the team and also the customer. When the customer is invited to the meetings and hear and sees the stories , feel pretty confident the project is in good hands.

Approach

Right now we are only using storyboards to tell the stories. It will be nice to start testing

with some videos where the scrum team will be the actors of the stories. In that way the will internalize in a better way the feelings and needs of the users.

