The document compares and contrasts use cases and user stories. Both use cases and user stories document requirements and describe functionality from a point of view, but user stories also encourage continuous discussion and support backlogs. Use cases do not represent a metaphor or quantum of work. User stories do not define a sequence or represent multiple levels of detail.

1. Use Cases vs.
User Stories

2. What do both do?
• Document Requirements
• Describe a point-of-view
• Describe functionality
• Encourage discussion
• Define scope

3. Use Cases do not
• Represent a metaphor
• Represent a quantum of work
• Encourage continuous discussion
• Support Backlogs
• Include UI/Design detail

4. User Stories do not
• Define sequence
• Represent multiple levels of detail
• Represent a contract
• Mimic Requirement Docs
• Include UI/Design detail
• Reference other Stories (INVEST)

5. Anatomy
Use Case # – Name
A role can action
Scope
Level
to goal
Primary Actor
Stakeholders & Interests
# SP
Preconditions
Trigger
Main Success Scenario
- Acceptance Tests
Extensions
-
Technology & Data Variations What to do on failure
Success Guarantee - Design Notes
Minimal Guarantee
- Everything else
Open Issues

6. Style & Syntax
• •
Use Cases User Stories
• •
Typed Often handwritten;
index cards
• Formal, Casual, 1-col., 2-
•
col., RUP, Occam, UML Goal is optional
• •
Level, Scope, Role, Action
Stakeholders, Actors,
•
Preconditions, Business language (DSL)
Guarantees, Scenario,
•
Extensions 1 index card
• No limit to technicality

7. Use Case # – Name Scope
Level
Scope
Use Case # – Name Primary Actor
Use Case # – Name Level Stakeholders & Interests
Caveats
Primary Actor
Scope Preconditions
Scope
Stakeholders & Interests
Level Trigger
Level
Primary Actor Preconditions Main Success Scenario
Primary Actor
Trigger
Stakeholders & Interests Extensions
Use Case # – Name
Stakeholders & Interests
Main Success Scenario
Preconditions Technology & Data Variations
Preconditions Extensions
Trigger Scope Success Guarantee
Trigger
Technology & Data Variations
Main Success Scenario
Main Success Scenario #
Use Case – Name Level Minimal Guarantee
Extensions Success Guarantee Primary Actor Open Issues
Extensions Scope Minimal Guarantee
Technology & Data Variations Stakeholders & Interests
Technology & Data Variations
Level Open Issues
Success Guarantee Preconditions
Success Guarantee Actor
Primary
Use Case # – Name
Minimal Guarantee Trigger
Minimal Guarantee & Interests
Stakeholders Open Issues Main Success Scenario
Open Issues Scope
Preconditions Extensions
Use Case # Use #Use Case # – Name
Use Case Case # – Name
– NameName
– Level
Trigger
Technology & Data Variations
Primary Actor
Main Success Scenario
Success Guarantee
Scope Scope Scope Scope
Stakeholders & Interests
Extensions
Minimal Guarantee
Level Level Level Level
Use Case # – Name Variations Preconditions
Technology & Data
Open Issues
Primary Actor Actor Primary Actor
Primary Primary Actor
Use Case # – Name Trigger
Success Guarantee
Scope Stakeholders & Interests Interests InterestsInterests
Stakeholders & Stakeholders &
Stakeholders &
Main Success Scenario
Minimal Guarantee Scope
Level Preconditions
Preconditions Preconditions
Preconditions
Extensions
Use Case # – Name
Open Issues Level
Primary Actor Trigger Trigger Trigger Trigger
Use Case # Data Variations
Technology &
Use Case # – Name – Name
Primary Actor
Stakeholders & Interests Main Success Scenario Scenario Success Scenario
Main Success Success Scenario
Main Main Scope Success Guarantee
Stakeholders & Interests
Preconditions Extensions
ExtensionsExtensions
Extensions
Scope Level Scope
Minimal Guarantee
Preconditions
Trigger Technology & Data Variations & Data Variations
Technology & Data Variations& Data Variations
Technology
Technology Primary Actor
Level Level
Open Issues
Trigger
Main Success Scenario Success Guarantee
Success Guarantee
Success Success Guarantee
Guarantee
Primary Actor Stakeholders & Interests Primary Actor
Minimal Guarantee Success Scenario
Main
Extensions Minimal Guarantee
Minimal Minimal Guarantee
Guarantee
Stakeholders & Interests Preconditions Stakeholders & Interests
Extensions
Technology & Data Variations Open Issues Issues Issues Issues
Open Open Open Trigger
Preconditions Preconditions
Technology & Data Variations
Success Guarantee Trigger Main Success Scenario Trigger
Success Guarantee
Minimal Guarantee Extensions
Main Success Scenario Main Success Scenario
Minimal Guarantee
Open Issues Extensions Technology & Data Variations Extensions
Open Issues
Technology & Data Variations Success Guarantee Technology & Data Variations
Use Case # – Name Minimal Guarantee
Success Guarantee Success Guarantee
Minimal Guarantee Open Issues Minimal Guarantee
Scope
Open Issues Open Issues
Level
Primary Actor

8. Caveats
A role can action A role can action A role can action
to goal to goal to goal
A role can action A role can action A role can action
to goal to goal to goal
A role can action A role can action A role can action
to goal to goal to goal
A role can action A role can action A role can action
to goal to goal to goal

9. Caveats
A role can action
to goal
A role can action
to goal
A role can action A role can action A role can action
to goal to goal to goal
A role can action
to goal

10. Use Cases and User
Stories have
equivalences but are
incomparable

11. Doggy Day Care
• Define quot;Ultra Doggy
• Outline full week
Spaquot; services
lunch menu
• Outline boarding
• Define discounted
options
partner pet services
• Set pricing structures
• Create cover art,
brand, and/or log
• Complete Bios on
• staff members
Define major care
sections
• Contact Info

12. MyMartianTravels Brocure
• Set tour pricing
• Create cover art,
brand and/or logo
• Define a 12-month
• Define major topics campaign
for Martian tourism
• Outline warning
• Describe a tour based messages (gravity,
oxygen, fungi, etc.)
in photosynthesis
• Suggest clothing
• Outline refund policy options