What does INVEST stand for in Agile?

INVEST is a mnemonic that guides Agile teams in crafting effective user stories. Each letter represents a key attribute essential for high-quality stories:

Independent 

A user story should stand alone, free from dependencies on other stories. This autonomy allows teams to prioritize and implement stories in any sequence without constraints.

Negotiable

User stories are not rigid contracts but starting points for discussion. They should be flexible, enabling teams to refine and adapt them based on evolving insights and feedback.

Valuable

Each story must deliver clear value to the user or customer, ensuring that the development effort contributes meaningfully to the product’s goals.

Estimable

The team should be able to gauge the effort required to complete a story. Clarity in scope and requirements facilitates accurate estimation and effective planning.

Small

Breaking down stories into manageable sizes ensures they can be completed within a single iteration, promoting steady progress and timely delivery.

Testable

A well-defined story includes criteria that allow for verification of its successful implementation, ensuring that the functionality meets the desired standards.

By adhering to the INVEST criteria, Agile teams can create user stories that are clear, actionable, and aligned with user needs, thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the development process.