Improving the User Story Agile Technique Using the INVEST Criteria

Although the Agile Software Development (ADS) approach has been around for the last 15 years, it is only recently that attention has moved towards Agile Software Management (ASM) for tackling some of the management-related weaknesses, such as estimating on the basis of User Story points. This paper presents an application of the INVEST criteria (Independent - Negotiable - Valuable - Estimable - Small -Testable) for improving the measurement technique of User Stories, introducing sizing units and a technique to negotiate requirements. It includes a discussion on an approach to balancing the six criteria used to evaluate a set of User Stories in a Sprint.