What are the best practices for creating inclusive and diverse user stories?

Create Inclusive personas--an extension of traditional personas by showing intersections of behavior, identity, and lived experience. read more https://www.experiencedynamics.com/how-to-create-inclusive-personas/

Utilize user personas and scenarios to construct User Journey Maps, which provide a detailed depiction of all the tasks and activities a user must undertake to achieve their end-goal. To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the user flow and identify all potential scenarios (both positive and negative), it is advisable to create a distinct user story for each task in the journey map. The methodology of dissecting user journeys into individual stories is extensively explained in Jeff Patton's book "User Story Mapping" (2014).

User stories will be more inclusive and representative of a wider range of users if there are several user personas with diverse characteristics. These characteristics can include age, demographics, goals, and needs. By considering the needs of different types of users, we can create user stories that meet the needs of a broader audience.

I find persona's a helpful tool for synthesising research insights, developing a shared understanding and representing target groups being designed for. One aspect of persona development that can be overlooked, is understanding who isn't being considered. In his book "Future Ethics" Cennydd Bowles, speaks to the importance of early identification of overlooked groups so we can preempt potential unintended consequences of our designs. He gives the example of AirBnB - while hosts and travellers are rightly core personas, stakeholders like neighbours or students seeking short-term accommodation may also be affected by product decisions, so identifying our blindspots early encourages more inclusive design practice :)

A majority of user stories will be for the 'main' personas. I have found that it is also important to incorporate outliers. These can add unique perspective and uncover bugs that may not have otherwise been found. I have found that there are a few that are important to add and to test to especially in a global company: 1. Multiple languages 2. Ability compliant (usability for all users - WSAG compliant as well) 3. Culture and gender considerations If these are not full personas that you want to include, then it is important to include actual people instead. At the very least, ensure Human centred design, User Story review or UAT with diverse users is completed.

Make sure each story includes the persona. Use the following format: As a {Persona} I want to {Perform Action} So that I can {Gain Benefit} This way, it clearly indicates the type of user that you are solving the problem for, while clearly identifying the "what" and the "why" you are building.

As a designer, you control the emotions that users feel when they're using your product. Use this wisely to create a great user experience. Choose a tone that goes well with the product and make sure to use broad and inclusive language

Inclusive language and terminology is critical in UX Psychology as it is conducive to a more welcoming and more accessible user experience. Combined with an empowering language and positive reinforcement, inclusive language can lead to higher levels of user satisfaction and retention.

Crafting inclusive user stories also demands careful attention to language, ensuring it is respectful and precise. The words chosen should avoid ambiguity, negative connotations, or exclusionary phrases that could alienate users. By prioritizing language that is clear, positive, and inclusive, designers can foster a welcoming and affirming environment for all users, reflecting a commitment to diversity and respect within the product or service experience.

Some of my best user stories were written in collaboration with stakeholders. It helps to bring your users or stakeholders to your grooming sessions so that you can actually identify what their needs are and translate them in to clear actionable requirements.

Incorporating stakeholders and fostering cross-functional collaboration during user story creation is pivotal. It ensures the stories accurately represent user needs while also addressing technical feasibility. This approach not only enhances team engagement and commitment but also encourages a diverse range of perspectives, sparking innovation and passion in delivering user-centric solutions.

Involving users and stakeholders is crucial, however involving DIVERSE users is even more important. Creating an inclusive user experience is only going to be inclusive if you listen to diverse voices and input. If you have biased sampling methods for your user research, then feedback given will also be biased. Teams need to include DEI initiatives in user sampling for user feedback and testing in order to truly capture inclusive insight.

Inclusion in user story creation is significantly enhanced by actively involving the actual users and stakeholders in the process. Their direct input ensures that the stories reflect real needs, preferences, and challenges. This collaborative approach not only grounds your design in authentic experiences but also fosters a sense of ownership and satisfaction among users, resulting in a product or service that truly resonates with its intended audience.

Step 3: Collaborative Storytelling Inclusive user stories should involve collaboration among diverse teams. Encourage cross-functional teams that bring different perspectives to the table. By working together, you can ensure a broader understanding of user needs.

Integrate the essential accessibility criteria into your user stories, considering the requirements of users with varying abilities. This includes catering to individuals who rely on screen readers due to visual impairments or those who require keyboard navigation due to motor limitations. To ensure that your user stories align with a wide range of users' needs and expectations, conducting comprehensive user testing using diverse participants is crucial. By gathering feedback from these individuals, you can further refine and enhance the inclusivity aspect of your design approach.

Regular and iterative refinement is key to maintaining the relevance of user stories in a dynamic environment. By periodically reviewing and updating these narratives, designers can ensure that they continue to reflect the evolving contexts and experiences of users. Engaging with users and stakeholders for validation ensures that the stories remain anchored to actual user goals and challenges, allowing for a design process that is both responsive and attuned to the needs of a diverse user base.

As an UXD, you have an opportunity to make a difference in the world of design. Be accountable and be inclusive: UX designers should never lose sight of equity-focused design. Listen to the users, reach out to colleagues and stakeholders who have a different opinions, perspectives and/or approaches from yours. Learn how you can incorporate their insights into your designs.

Leverage AI and Data AI can play a vital role in diversifying your user stories. Utilize AI-powered analytics tools to identify patterns and trends within your user data. This can help you uncover hidden insights and represent diverse user perspectives.

Incorporating lessons learned from both successes and shortcomings in user stories is crucial for evolving design practices. This reflective approach, informed by user feedback, allows for the honing of more effective and enjoyable user experiences. It fosters a culture that values continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring that the design process remains dynamic and user-centric, leading to solutions that genuinely resonate with a diverse user base.

My favorite way to write user stories is to follow the three Cs rule. 1. Card 2. Conversation 3. Confirmation The Card is simple. It's actually the user story itself: As a {Persona} I want to {Perform Action} So that I can {Gain Benefit} The Conversation is the actual conversation that happens between your product and engineering teams to identify what needs to happen in order toa achieve this. Finally, the Confirmation is the acceptance criteria. It defines "what does success look like"? When you take a moment to write your user stories this way, you'll start to realize that there is consistency, while becoming breeding grounds for diverse user stories that cater to several personas.

User stories are the foundation of empathy-driven design, but they can easily overlook the needs of diverse individuals. To create inclusive user stories: - Acknowledge the diversity of your users: the world and its people are broad in background - Use plain language: speak like a human - Consider accessibility: your audience is wide and has different needs - Seek feedback from diverse perspectives: you’ll learn a lot from different people - Embrace iteration: don’t expect to get it right the first time

Use Inclusive Language Inclusive language is crucial in creating user stories. Ensure that your narratives use neutral and respectful terminology. Avoid language that may alienate or stereotype any user group.

In my point of view, empathy is the key to build real inclusive and diverse user stories. Empathy has to be the a priori state of mind, the condition of possibility for each and every method or tool to be applied.

When writing user stories, there can be multiple stories that are very similar except for the persona: user, manager, administrator. Make sure that you have a clear naming convention and how to enter stories so that you don't get duplicates and you can easily sort, see trends etc. The bigger the set of User Stories, the more organized you need to be start to finish. It also helps if you are organized and thorough. Great User Stories lead to great (and easy) test scripts and test completion. Anytime we hand work off to a colleague, the easier we can make the hand off, the less time it takes, the stronger the relationship gets and the more the team bonds as a whole.