The quality of the product is crucial for a business. It may be raw materials or finished goods. Product acceptance happens only when the product meets its intention.
This article gives information about product acceptance criteria, their importance, and what you must keep in mind while setting the criteria.
What is Product Acceptance?
Product acceptance is the process of ensuring that a product meets all requirements for delivery to the customer. It verifies that a given purchased or manufactured item meets specifications and is usable for its intended purpose.
It is typically conducted during or after development by verifying and validating that the product meets performance criteria and other standards such as safety and usability.
The acceptance involves testing, inspecting, and reviewing the product to ensure it meets all specifications before being released for sale or use. Once a product has been accepted, it can be released to the market, fully deployed onsite, or used in production environments.
Product Acceptance Criteria
Product acceptance criteria are a set of business rules that a product or service must meet to be accepted by the user. They are distinctive for each user.
Good and realistic acceptance criteria help to avoid unwanted results in the end.
How to set product acceptance criteria
To set acceptance criteria, you need to follow some rules. Initially, the product manufacturer sets these criteria based on the customer’s needs.
After that, the business analyst, requirement analyst, or development team member reviews these criteria with user stories. Then the whole team discusses the user stories and acceptance criteria.
What are the features of product acceptance criteria?
- It should be capable of being proven right or wrong: The criteria should be able to define the result, yes or no.
- It should be short and clear: No need to write complete documentation. However, the criteria must be as transparent and straightforward as possible.
- It should be easily understandable: Set clear criteria so your developers can understand it without much effort.
- It should serve the user viewpoint: Write the criteria for actual user experience.
What is a User Story?
A user story is an informal, detailed description of the product or software feature from the end-user’s point of view.
It contains the type of user, what he wants, and why he wants it. Usually, the client, end-user, manager, or development team member writes a user story.
It helps to describe the requirement of the product feature in a simplified manner.
You must concentrate on the necessary elements to write a compelling user story. They are who, what and why.
Here who describes the type of user, what means action, and why describes the benefits.
What does the user story template look like?
User story follows a simple template like as a < type of user>, I want <action>, so that <benefit>.
- Type of user means a person or a system who interacts with the implemented system to reach the goal.
- Action means an assurance that the user can be skilled by interacting with the system.
- Benefit means the user gets value because of the system’s interaction.
For example, As <Astha>, I want <to clean my workplace> so that<I can feel more comfortable>.
User stories may be written on an index card or small sticky notes and arranged on the table for discussion.
3C’s of user story
3C’s are very important in user stories. They are card, conversation, and confirmation.
- The card contains the user story format. It must address ‘who,’ ‘what,’ and ‘why.’
- Conversation means the conference between the product owner, the end-user, team members, and other stakeholders. Most of the time, the conversation will be verbal and supported by documents.
- The product owner or end-user confirms that the story has been successfully implemented and attained the requirements.
User story plays a vital role while setting acceptance criteria for product acceptance.
Essential tips for writing good Acceptance Criteria
- Before development, record the criteria: Documentation of acceptance criteria is necessary before actual development. Collect all customer needs before setting the criteria. Ensure that the specified criteria are acceptable to both parties ( vendors and buyers).
- Don’t create too short acceptance criteria: Set the AC to fetch the input but not the final solution.
- Set realistic and achievable acceptance criteria: Realistic criteria help you deliver efficiently.
- Don’t create too broad acceptance criteria: It leads to an indefinite user story.
- Don’t use technical words: Write AC in simple English so your stakeholders, team members, and managers can easily understand.
- Get consent from everyone: Communicate with your stakeholders & team members and make sure that everyone reviews AC because everyone has their point of view on solving problems.
- Create testable AC: Write AC so that testers can easily confirm that all the requirements are met.
Importance
- It allows you to define the boundaries of a user story.
- Because of acceptance criteria, employees of a software company’s production company or development team come to know what they must do to meet customer requirements.
- It helps you to plan and estimate the project accurately.
- It acts as the basis for tests.
Conclusion
To write good acceptance criteria, you should ensure they are realistic and achievable. Lastly, it is vital to ensure that all stakeholders review the acceptance criteria before development begins.
User stories are a vital part of product development and can be extremely helpful in ensuring that all requirements are met. In addition, the 3C’s of the user story (card, conversation, and confirmation) are essential for good communication between stakeholders.
Hoping this article helps you understand the importance of user stories and acceptance criteria.
