Business analysis glossary
User Story
What it is
A user story is a short description of a need from the user's point of view, usually written as "As a [type of user], I want [goal], so that [benefit]". It starts a conversation and is refined with acceptance criteria. The wording is only a prompt: the real detail comes from conversations and from the acceptance criteria attached to the story.
Why it matters
Stories keep the team focused on the person and the value instead of on technical features, and they are small enough to plan in an agile sprint. Stories can be re-ordered easily, so a team can respond to new priorities without rewriting a large specification.
Example
At Marlow Online Store: "As a returning customer, I want to see the total delivery cost before I enter my card details, so that I am not surprised at the end of checkout." Notice that it names who wants it, what they want to do and the benefit, but leaves the screen design and technical approach to the team.