1. Specification Workshops
Getting the specs out of user stories
Inspired by Gojko Adzic
Kishen Simbhoedatpanday
E: ksimbhoedatpanday@xebia.com
T: KishenPanday
3. B-2 Stealth bomber Crashed – Loss of $1.4 billion
“The aircraft actually performed as it was designed.
In other words, all the systems were functioning normally.”
“The human factor of communicating critical information
was a contributing factor to this mishap."
4. Chinese Whispers Game
1) One person to think up a phrase.
2) Whispers it to the player who is next, and that player should make as
much effort as possible to hear that phrase.
3) Next player whisper what they think was said to the next player, and so
on,
4) Last player shouts out the phrase so that everybody can hear.
10. Agile Acceptance Testing
1. Use real-world examples
2. Select set of examples as specification & acceptance
test suite
3. Automate verification of acceptance tests
4. Focus software development on acceptance tests
5. Use acceptance tests to facilitate discussion about
future change requests
12. Keep workshop focused
Here’s what I think we face
Here’s what I think we should do
Here’s why
Here’s what we should keep our eye on
Now talk to me
13. Tips during Specification Workshops
Building shared understanding of the domain
Point out different examples
Brush off vague examples, be precise
Flush out additional cases before development starts
14. Tips during Specification Workshops
Other participants have understood correctly
Workshops ends only when everyone involved agrees
Build single project jargon
Get customers on board!
15. Good acceptance tests have these properties
Specific: explicitly defined
Measurable: observable
Achievable: realistic scenario
Relevant: related to user story
Time-bound: observed instantly
16. Building & Maintaining Shared understanding
Being Agile Being stiff
Individuals and interactions Processes and tools
Working software Comprehensive Doc.
Customer collaboration Contract negotiation
Responding to change Following a plan