Project Management Institute (PMI) Professional in Business Analysis Practice Exam

Which characteristic indicates that a user story should be able to be estimated?

1. Stable

2. Testable

3. Small

4. Structurable

The correct answer is: Testable

A user story should be testable in order to be effectively estimated. Testability means that the user story has well-defined acceptance criteria that clearly outline how to determine whether the functionality has been successfully implemented. This clarity allows the team to assess the work involved in developing the user story, leading to a more accurate estimation of the time and resources required. When a user story is testable, it provides a basis for understanding what needs to be done and how to verify it once the development work is completed. This is critical for estimation because if developers cannot ascertain what constitutes "done," it becomes challenging to gauge the effort required. In contrast, while stability, small size, and structurability are valuable characteristics for user stories, they do not necessarily guarantee that a user story can be estimated accurately. A stable story may have defined parameters, but without testability, those parameters may still be ambiguous. A small story might be easier to estimate in terms of time, but if it lacks clear acceptance criteria, it can still pose challenges in providing an accurate estimate. Similarly, structurable stories are beneficial in organizing features, yet without the ability to test their outcomes, estimating the work remains uncertain. Thus, the focus on testability is what makes a user story suitable for