This document is the exercise for Donn DeBoard's scenario- based design session at the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Technical Communication Conference.

1. 1
Copyright 2014 Donn DeBoard 2014 Mid‐Atlantic Technical Communication Conference
Worksheet handout
Business situation: The Jones Group is required to manage and maintain compliance to federal and state tax regulations. XYZ software is a Web‐
based product that helps automate and streamline the tax compliance process.
Step Description Example Why this important?
1. Observe
customers.
Clear understanding of people in epic story.
2. Determine the
epic story or
end‐to‐end
story. (Who,
What?)
Jane Smith,
Jones CFO
As a CFO of a Fortune 500 company, I want to automate and streamline the compliance
processes to federal and state regulations for Jones.
Mike Kelly, IT
Manager
As an IT manager, I want to my systems are efficient and support Jones’ business processes.
Alex Davis, IT
professional
As an IT professional, I want to my systems to be optimized and readily available to my internal
users.
Simon Barry,
Finance
professional
As a finance professional, I want to reduce the time my team spends on compliance issues,
including research, data entry, and generating reports.
3. Determine user
stories.
Clear focus on context of epic story. Initial stories are:
(Jane, CFO) Define Jones’ financial compliance requirements.
(Mike, IT Manager) Evaluate compliance software and purchase.
(Alex, IT professional) Install and administer software.
(Simon, Finance professional)
Manage, maintain, and report financial compliance to federal and state jurisdictions.
4 Determine
phases for (Alex,
Phases for Install and Administer software:

2. 2
Copyright 2014 Donn DeBoard 2014 Mid‐Atlantic Technical Communication Conference
Step Description Example Why this important?
IT professional),
Install and
Administer
software
As an IT
professional,
I want my
systems to
be readily
available to
my internal
users.
Install software.
Manage network.
Manage security.
Manage users.
Troubleshoot software.
5. Identify the jobs
or tasks within
each user story.
Identify decision
paths, solution,
and product
features.
Manage users. As an IT professional, I want to:
1. Identify the level of permissions each member of the Jones organization requires, so that
they can use XYZ software successfully.
2. Create roles to assign those permissions, so that I can address my users changing needs
easily.
3. Assign roles to my users so that I can address my users changing needs easily.
4. Add and delete users, so that only the current staff can access our systems.
6. Aggregate job
stories into
Manage users
story.
Daily scenarios
Critical scenarios
Add and delete users.
Periodic scenarios
Identify and set levels of permissions.
Create standard roles across the company.
Create roles.
Assign roles.
Create custom roles.
Customize specific roles for unique users.
Exceptions scenarios
Troubleshooting scenarios
Customer cannot access system.
Analyze symptoms.

3. 3
Copyright 2014 Donn DeBoard 2014 Mid‐Atlantic Technical Communication Conference
Example: Job stories within Manage User story
This job story step… Has this decision path… And uses these solutions… And these product features.
When I identify the permissions
for XYZ software that each
member of the Jones staff
requires, I want configure them,
so that Jones’ staff have the
appropriate access to XYZ
software.
How do I configure permissions in
XYZ software?
Is there more than one way? No.
Set permissions.
Configure permissions.
PDQ menu through Graphical
User Interface (GUI)
(Concepts, process, and
procedure).
When I create roles to assign a set
of the permissions, I want to
readily address my user’s
changing needs to access XYZ
software, so that Jones’ staff can
expedite the tax compliance
process.
How many types of roles do I
need? I need N number of roles.
Is there more than one way? Yes.
Research roles and permissions
associated with each role.
Create custom roles.
Create standard role types.
Define standard roles.
PDQ menu through Graphical
User Interface (GUI)
(Concepts, process, and
procedure).
XYZ functions accessed through
the command lines (Concepts,
process, and procedure).
When I create customized roles
for my users, I can customize their
access to XYZ software, so that
individual members of Jones’ staff
with unique needs for XYZ
functionality can be successful.
Is there more than one way? Yes.
Assign a role or role to each Jones’
user.
PDQ menu through Graphical
User Interface (GUI)
(Concepts, process, and
procedure).
XYZ functions accessed through
the command lines (Concepts,
process, and procedure).
When I ‘m adding or deleting
users, I want to ensure that only
the current Jones’ staff can access
XYZ functions so that proprietary
intellectual property is secure.
Is there more than one way? No. Add a user.
Delete a user.
PDQ menu through Graphical
User Interface (GUI)
(Concepts, process, and
procedure )

4. 4
Copyright 2014 Donn DeBoard 2014 Mid‐Atlantic Technical Communication Conference
Exercise: What is the epic story for your product?
Step Description Example Why this important?
1. Observe
customers.
2. Determine the
epic story or
end‐to‐end
story. (Who,
What?)
2a. Who?
2b. Who?
2c. Who?
2d. Who?
3. Determine user
stories.
4 Determine
phases for one
user story.
5. Identify the jobs
or tasks within
each user story.
Identify decision
paths, solution,
and product
features.

5. 5
Copyright 2014 Donn DeBoard 2014 Mid‐Atlantic Technical Communication Conference
Step Description Example Why this important?
6. Aggregate job
stories into user
story.
Daily scenarios
Critical scenarios
Periodic scenarios
Exceptions scenarios
Troubleshooting scenarios

6. 6
Copyright 2014 Donn DeBoard 2014 Mid‐Atlantic Technical Communication Conference
Exercise: What are the job stories within the user stories for your product? Select one user story.
Job stories within (one user story):
This job story step… Has this decision path… And uses these solutions… And these product features.