User Story Mapping: Discover the Whole Story, Build the Right Product by Jeff Patton

Overview:

If you’re an entrepreneur at a tech firm, or a technology professional working in the product organization at a large organization then this book is a must-read for you. Why haven’t you read it yet? Its probably on your list so go ahead and start it. You’re probably familiar with user stories, and this is the definitive guide that will help you take your company to the next level.

Here Is What The Book Was About:

Defines a process for not only how to write better user stories, but how to think about building software, interact with your key stakeholders, and conduct workshops to focus on outcomes, rather than output. There are case studies from successful companies such as Globo Brazil and how they approach user stories to deliver a key project in time for the election, Olympics. There is even a practice exercise you can use with your own team where you map out your daily routine.

Rating: (1 to 5)

Solid 4 based on valuable content applicable to real world uses that you can implement at work immediately. Would have scored higher if it were shorter/more focused.

Other Thoughts on The Book:

While this book was criticized for being too long and repetitive, I find that you only notice this if you read it cover to cover. If used as a reference book, which is likely what the author intends, then you still get quite a bit from the book. Jeff’s writing style is also very entertaining, he uses humor in the right amounts, in a conversational flow, making the topics easy to engage and approach.

Link to Book: