Acceptance criteria are paramount to developers. They outline the exact requirements that a feature must satisfy to be considered finished. In my experience, well-written ones help eliminate misinterpretations, minimize rework, and align everyone on the same definition of done.
They also serve as a North Star for developers as they implement the solution. As a result, when there clearly defined this can help developers complete tasks more efficiently, and in turn, produce higher quality software products.
Understanding How it Helps in Software Development
Acceptance criteria are key components of software development. They outline the specific requirements a product should meet to be accepted by users/stakeholders. These criteria act as a contract between developers and clients to define when a piece of functionality is done.
Good AC’s have a few things in common. There specific and measurable with a test. They take the perspective of the user and define what the software should do. They also contain any constraints.
In the software development lifecycle, they are critical. They help guide the development process and provide a framework for testing and validation. From the earliest planning stages through final delivery, acceptance criteria ensure everyone is aligned.
Acceptance criteria are closely related to user stories and requirements. User stories define what should be built from the user’s perspective, and they define exactly what validation we need to build and test it. In other words, acceptance criteria are the link from high-level requirements to specific implementation and validation.
How to Write Them Effectively
Well-written acceptance criteria have a few key things in common:
- Writing is clear and concise.
- Outcomes are specific and measurable.
- Criteria focus on user behavior and experience.
- Conditions are structured so they’re testable.
- Criteria are written at a high level without discussing implementation details.
One characteristic is there are often written in a “Given, When, Then” structure or as scenario-based descriptions. The “Given, When, Then” structure helps ensure that each criterion has a clear purpose. “Given” sets the initial context for the criterion. “When” describes the action taking place, and “Then” outlines the outcome. Scenario-based acceptance criteria might consist of different scenarios the software should be able to handle.
Let’s look at a couple of examples of good and bad criteria. Bad criteria: “The system should be user friendly.” This is a poor criterion because user friendliness is vague and nearly impossible to test. Good criteria: “Users can achieve key result X in less than two minutes to set up their account from their first attempt.”
To ensure your acceptance criteria are as unambiguous as possible, make them all specific and measurable. Use numbers wherever possible, or clearly define the outcome. For testability, ask whether the team can actually observe a user completing the task. If not, you might be writing about an internal process (i.e., user friendliness) rather than an observable result.
Acceptance Criteria in Agile Methodologies
Agile methodologies such as Scrum are highly dependent on acceptance criteria. In sprint planning, they help the team understand the full scope of user stories. They help guide conversations about complexity and effort estimates.
During backlog refinement, you review and update acceptance criteria’s to ensure they’re still relevant and align with current project goals. As understanding of the project evolves, acceptance criteria may need to be altered.
In sprint reviews and demos, they are used as a checklist. It’s a tangible way to show that a feature satisfies the criteria that were outlined. Using the criteria as a checklist adds transparency to the process and helps stakeholders trust that the feature does what you say it does.
The iterative nature of Agile allows you to change criteria throughout the development process. Perhaps you realize something new about the product or a high-level company priority changes. By being flexible with criteria, you can ensure the final product solves user pain points and company goals.
Connecting to Quality Assurance
Acceptance criteria directly influence how we write test cases. They define exactly what we need to test and what constitutes a pass. Aligning the testing done ensures we’re testing the most important elements of the software.
Good criteria are highly valuable for automated testing because you can turn the criteria into an automated test script. Then you can run that test script over and over again to validate the functionality of your software. This certainly saves time when running the test and makes your test much more reliable.
Acceptance criteria are the foundation of establishing the Definition of Done (DoD) for a feature or user story. If you have good ones, the standard for when we know that feature or user story is done becomes very clear. This obviously avoids any debate over whether a feature or user story is done.
By having shared criteria, we can get everybody on the same page. For QAs and developers, they are our specifications, which minimize any confusion for what we’re building and what needs to be tested.
Best Practices for Managing
Organizing in a prioritized manner is essential to managing a project effectively. To do this, you could assign acceptance criteria to different categories such as core functionality and user experience impact. This allows teams to knock out the most important criteria first.
Writing them should be a team effort, involving anyone from developers and testers to stakeholders. This diverse group of individuals will help you develop AC’s that are comprehensive, feasible, and align with both business and technical needs.
Using tools and templates to write acceptance criteria is highly efficient:
- Project management tools (e.g. Jira, Trello)
- Requirements management tools
- Spreadsheets or shared documents
- Wiki software
Versioning is important, especially in a fast-moving project. You need to keep a history of any changes and ensure everyone is always working from the latest version. This prevents misalignment and ensures everyone is working toward the same project goals.
Common Challenges and Solutions in Implementing
Resistance to acceptance criteria usually comes from the perception that it’s extra work. Solve this by showing how thoughtful criteria save time and prevent rework down the road. Use specific examples of how they improve project results.
Changing requirements is particularly difficult. To avoid this, review frequently. This way, you can edit as necessary without completely stopping progress. Discuss openly about the impact of new information.
Balancing detail with some flexibility is a delicate balance. You want criteria that are specific enough to guide development, but not so strict that it boxes the developer into a corner. So focus on the overarching results rather than how to get there.
When stakeholders can’t agree, use acceptance criteria as a guide to mitigate and manage expectations. Then, facilitate a discussion to decide which requirements are most important and how to get everyone something they want within scope.
Closing Out
AC’s are a key aspect of a successful software development project. They help you define project success, direct testing efforts, and guarantee stakeholder alignment. Use the strategies and best practices above, and you’ll undoubtedly see better communication, quality, and project results.
Just keep in mind that good acceptance criteria will change depending on your project. Be adaptable and work closely with your team.
