Keynote

User Story Mapping: An Effective Technique for Decision Making

Brief Bio

Prof. María Dolores Lozano is a Full Professor at the Department of Computing Systems, University of Castilla-La Mancha (Albacete, Spain). She received her M.Sc. and PhD degrees in Computer Science from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain. She co-leads the Interactive Systems Engineering (ISE) Research Group of the Albacete Research Institute of Informatics. Her teaching and research areas involve Software Engineering and Human-Computer Interaction. She has authored more than 100 papers in journals, book chapters and international conferences. She has served as Technical Program Chair, Technical Program Member and on Organizing Committees of national and international conferences in the field of Human-Computer Interaction. Her research interests include interactive systems development, Natural User Interfaces, and distributed and tangible user interfaces, which are applied to various domains, especially education and healthcare.

Abstract

User Story Mapping is a powerful technique that has gained popularity in the field of agile software development. However, its benefits extend far beyond software development, making it a valuable tool for decision making across various domains. This talk explores the usage of User Story Mapping as a technique to aid decision making and highlights its effectiveness in visualizing complex problems, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing actions.

User Story Mapping is a visual exercise that allows teams to organize and prioritize user requirements, features, and tasks in a user-centric manner. It involves creating a narrative flow of user stories, representing the steps users take to accomplish their goals. By breaking down user activities into manageable chunks, User Story Mapping helps identify the core features and user needs, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the problem space. This is a versatile technique that goes beyond its roots in agile software development. Its application in decision making provides valuable insights, promotes collaboration, and enables effective prioritization. By visualizing complex problems, fostering collaboration, prioritizing actions, and embracing adaptability, User Story Mapping empowers teams and stakeholders to make informed decisions. Whether applied in software development, project management, product design, or any other domain, User Story Mapping proves to be an invaluable tool in enhancing decision-making processes and achieving successful outcomes.