Slicing: A Deep Dive
One of the most important (and challenging) techniques in the Agile domain is slicing. It’s like cutting a cake — everyone wants a piece, but no one wants the mess. I’ve previously discussed the overall approach to slicing in my article “The Art of Slicing”, where I introduced various methods such as functional slicing, workflow slicing, data slicing, user role slicing, and defaults-usage slicing.
In this article, I aim to dive deeper into the technique by outlining how to take a requirement (an Epic) and slice it into user stories effectively. I’ll also provide practical tips and examples for refining this skill.
Use AI as Your Starting Point
Welcome to the AI revolution, where every task — even slicing — can be supercharged by intelligent tools. Let’s face it, we’re living in an era where AI is doing everything from writing poetry to diagnosing medical conditions. Why not let it handle a bit of your Agile workflow, too?
I’ve created a customized GPT specifically for Agile practitioners: the Agile Expert for Maximizing Delivery. This GPT isn’t just any generic assistant. Its “brain” is packed with decades’ worth of Agile wisdom and dozens of articles I’ve published over the last decade. Think of it as having a seasoned Agile coach sitting in your browser, always ready to help you slice, dice, and deliver.
Why should you use it? Because it can save you 80% of the effort. Imagine having a sous-chef in the kitchen — they do the prep work, and you get all the credit for the gourmet meal. The same logic applies here: let the GPT kick-start your slicing process, and then you can focus on refining user stories and aligning them with your goals.
And the best part? I’ve made it available for the community to use. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and put it to work — your backlog will thank you.
Use Given/When/Then
The Gherkin format is one of the most powerful tools for defining user stories and slicing them effectively. It clearly outlines what the team will showcase during the Sprint Review session, leaving no room for surprises.
While the user story may include additional details, the Given/When/Then framework should always be the first element in the description (paired with the “As a [user], I want [goal], so that [reason]” format).
However, using the Given/When/Then format doesn’t guarantee well-defined user stories. Let’s explore common mistakes that can undermine its effectiveness and how to address them.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Using Non-Human Users
One frequent error is describing the Given/When/Then using digital entities (e.g., “the system,” “the network,” “module X”) instead of real human users. While such terms may seem convenient, they fail to reflect actual user behavior and interactions. Always shift the focus to human users — this keeps the user story relevant and ensures the team understands its real-world impact.
2. Isolating Edge Cases
Another mistake is placing valuable information about edge cases in a separate “Edge Cases” section instead of integrating them into Given/When/Then scenarios. This risks implementation gaps. A good practice is to turn each edge case into its own Given/When/Then scenario, which can also serve as a basis for creating additional user stories.
3. Isolating Notes
Similarly, placing critical information in a “Notes” section can lead to miscommunication or missed details. Incorporate every significant note into the Given/When/Then scenarios and, if needed, create separate user stories. This ensures no valuable context is overlooked during implementation.
Slicing Flow Recap
Here’s a concise recap of the slicing process:
- Leverage AI assistance to generate initial slices and acceptance criteria using the Given/When/Then format.
- Integrate edge cases into acceptance criteria and create separate user stories where needed.
- Integrate notes into acceptance criteria and slice them into standalone stories when applicable.
This approach ensures that all critical use-case information is included within acceptance criteria, avoiding omissions and promoting clarity.
Why Slicing Matters
Adopting this focused slicing approach offers several benefits:
- Continuous Delivery & Feedback Loops
Smaller stories enable faster delivery and shorter feedback cycles, making it easier to iterate and adapt to changing requirements. - Improved Testing Coverage
In organizations with limited QA resources, developers often shoulder testing responsibilities. Small, focused stories reduce the chances of missed test cases and improve overall quality. - Better Estimations
It’s easier to estimate small, well-defined stories than large ones with multiple edge cases and notes. This reduces ambiguity and fosters more accurate sprint planning. - Enhanced Understanding
Smaller user stories are easier to explain and understand, fostering better alignment across teams and stakeholders. - Epic Refinement Opportunities
Slicing epics into smaller stories helps refine the MVP by identifying essential elements for the first release versus later phases. For example, you can prioritize core functionalities while deferring advanced features. - Granular Prioritization
Small user stories allow product owners to prioritize effectively. For instance, some stories in Epic X may have lower priority than stories in Epic Y, enabling better allocation of team resources.
Addressing Common Product Owner Concerns
1. “Won’t Teams Lose the Bigger Picture?”
Ah, the classic fear of the forest being obscured by all those pesky trees. The truth is, the bigger picture lives at the Epic level, not in the details of each user story. It doesn’t matter if the Epic is sliced into 5 or 40 stories; the overarching goal remains the same. Think of it as assembling a jigsaw puzzle — you don’t need to hold all the pieces at once to know what the final image looks like.
Pro tip: revisit the Epic’s description regularly during refinement sessions. It’s like re-reading the map while on a treasure hunt — you might find a shortcut or avoid digging in the wrong spot.
2. “Isn’t This More Work for Product Owners?”
Yes, slicing takes more effort upfront, but think of it like meal prep. Spend two hours slicing, dicing, and organizing today, and you’ll thank yourself every time you grab a perfectly portioned snack (or in this case, user story). Sure, you could wing it and toss everything into the sprint backlog as one big stew, but then you’ll spend extra time later fishing out ingredients and explaining what’s what.
Here’s the ROI: those two hours of proper slicing save countless hours of confusion, rework, and estimation arguments. Plus, you’ll look like a slicing ninja, and who doesn’t want that?
The Bottom Line
Practicing detailed slicing is one of the best investments organizations can make to boost delivery — enabling more delivery, faster delivery, and higher quality. While easy to understand, slicing is hard to master. It’s like learning to play an instrument — you start clunky, maybe even hit a few sour notes, but with practice, you’ll be playing symphonies.
Investing in slicing doesn’t just improve your current sprint; it lays the groundwork for a smoother, more efficient development pipeline in the long run. You’re not just solving today’s problems — you’re future-proofing your Agile processes.
And remember, you’re not alone in this journey. Whether it’s leveraging AI tools like the Agile Expert for Maximizing Delivery or collaborating with experienced team members, there’s always support to help you master the art of slicing.
So, pick up that virtual knife, start slicing, and watch your productivity soar.
