How to Write a User Story?

The primary focus in dashboard design lies in answering the questions of the business issue, making it a crucial aspect of the project. Therefore, it becomes vital to determine the user's intentions and the specific answers they seek. During the fourth week of training, we were introduced to the user story format, which serves as a potential solution for collecting requirements.

User Story

A user story is a simple but effective tool to gather real requirements from the client during the project planning phase. Usually, it is made up of four parts, Who, When, What, and Why.

Who: Identifies the user or person utilizing the dashboard.
When: Identifies the situation or context in which the user will be utilizing the dashboard.
What: Identifies the specific action the user intends to perform with the dashboard.
Why: Explains the underlying reason or purpose behind the user's need to take that action.

Writing Framework

Based on who, when, what, and why, a straightforward framework can be crafted using the following phrases.

As a...
When...
I want...
So I Can...

Here are some examples of a user story.

Example 1:

As a Physician
When reviewing patient outcomes and treatment efficacy
I want to access a comprehensive dashboard that presents relevant medical data, such as patient demographics, diagnosis, and treatment history
So I can make informed decisions about patient care and identify areas for improvement in treatment plans

Example 2:

As a Social Media Manager
When evaluating the impact of my social media campaigns
I want to monitor metrics like follower growth, engagement rates, and post reach
So I can determine which content resonates with the audience and optimize my social media strategy accordingly

Example 3:

As a Pharmacist
When managing medication inventory and tracking usage
I want to have a dashboard that displays real-time stock levels, prescription refill rates, and medication expiration dates
So I can ensure efficient inventory management, prevent stockouts, and maintain patient safety by providing fresh medications.

User stories serve as a convenient method to pinpoint the essential requirements of clients. Nevertheless, it is crucial to break down a concise user story into a more detailed version, enabling you to address and develop the specific elements of the dashboard.

Author:
Nitesh Shrestha
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