Automaton or Software Developer?

The software producer’s user story is not a specification, nor is it a list of instructions. Ideally a user story is an informal sketch of your Product Owner’s intention.

I find the sketch quality of a Product Owner’s user stories anticipates and expects a time-limited range of discovery, development, and enhancement from me, the software developer.

Peanut Butter & Jelly

A Product Owner (played by the two frustrated kids in the video below) wants an Engineer (played by the clueless dad) to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Take a look…

The lesson to me is that a Product Owner shouldn’t need to provide comprehensive end-to-end details or font-perfect mockups for me to build a feature — unless I’m an automaton or in this case, a clueless dad.

Don’t be obtuse. Strive to be a Product Developer, not merely an Engineer. Offer both your engineering chops and your imagination. Help your Product Owner shape the product.