Welcome back to our monthly book series, where we open the doors to the WATA Factory internal library and invite you to discover titles that can truly change the way you think and work.
This month, we’re featuring a book that has become a cornerstone in agile circles: User Stories Applied: For Agile Software Development by Mike Cohn. More than just a manual, it’s a mindset shift — one that brings focus back to the people who will actually use the software we create.
Too often in software development, requirements are a chore: long documents, endless revisions, and still no guarantee that what’s built will match what’s needed. Mike Cohn flips that on its head. He shows that by starting with simple, well-crafted user stories, teams can save time, cut rework, and deliver software that users love — without drowning in process.
At WATA Factory, we believe learning is most powerful when it’s relatable, practical, and ready to use on Monday morning. This book ticks all those boxes.
Key technical details
- Title: User Stories Applied: For Agile Software Development
- Author: Mike Cohn
- Publisher: Addison-Wesley
- Pages: 286 pages
- Language: English
- Format: Physical copy available in our internal library
Book synopsis
Thoroughly reviewed and warmly welcomed by the agile community, User Stories Applied offers a start-to-finish approach for making user stories the heart of your development process.
Cohn begins by explaining what a great user story looks like — concise, meaningful, and focused on real value — and contrasts this with examples of stories that miss the mark. From there, he shares practical techniques for gathering stories, even when direct user contact isn’t possible, using interviews, questionnaires, observation, and collaborative workshops.
Once you’ve built your collection of stories, Cohn walks you through how to:
- Group and prioritise them to guide development.
- Integrate them seamlessly into planning and scheduling.
- Turn them into acceptance tests that keep quality high.
- Use them to estimate releases and manage scope without losing agility.
Along the way, he highlights common pitfalls and offers straightforward advice to keep teams aligned, engaged, and focused on what matters most.
Why do we love this book?
Because it doesn’t just talk about agile principles — it lives them.
The book encourages genuine conversations between team members, stakeholders, and users, replacing bulky requirement documents with something more human: stories that anyone can understand and relate to. It’s not about ticking boxes; it’s about building shared understanding.
We also love how Cohn blends theory with immediately applicable tools. You can read a chapter in the morning and use what you’ve learned in a sprint planning session that same afternoon.
It’s a book that quietly shifts your habits:
- You start asking better questions.
- You write requirements that spark discussion rather than confusion.
- You stop assuming what users want — and start knowing.
Who will benefit from reading this?
- Developers who want a clearer grasp of what they’re building and why.
- Testers who need acceptance criteria that are meaningful and testable.
- Business analysts who want to bridge communication gaps.
- Project managers looking for a simpler, more transparent way to plan.
- Agile practitioners who want to keep processes light but effective.
About the author: Mike Cohn
Mike Cohn is the founder of Mountain Goat Software, a consultancy and training company that helps teams adopt agile methods that actually work. With over twenty years of experience, he has held roles as developer, manager, and trainer, working with companies from ambitious start-ups to global giants.
A founding member of the Agile Alliance, Mike is known for his clear, approachable style, turning complex ideas into practical guidance that inspires teams to rethink how they work and build software that truly meets user needs.
WATA Factory’s commitment to growth through learning
At WATA Factory, we don’t see learning as something you squeeze in when there’s time. It’s a core part of how we grow, as individuals and as a team.
Our internal library is a living, breathing resource — full of books that challenge assumptions, spark ideas, and equip us with tools to do our best work.
By reading and discussing titles like User Stories Applied, we keep ourselves connected to the human side of technology. We remind ourselves that behind every line of code, there’s a real person with real needs. And when our people learn to serve those needs better, everyone wins — our team, our projects, and our clients.
Ready to explore?
User Stories Applied: For Agile Software Development is now available in our internal library.
Pick it up, take it for a spin in your next sprint, and see how a few well-written stories can transform not just your process, but your results. Because in the end, great software isn’t just built — it’s told.
