Three Amigos (Refinement)

Three Amigos is a collaborative workshop bringing together the Product Owner, developers, and testers to clarify the requirements of a user story. This game promotes communication, alignment, and prioritisation, while reducing the risks of misunderstandings and bugs. It ensures that all aspects of a story are well understood before development begins.

Walkthrough

1. 1

   Introduction

   10 min

   The facilitator begins by explaining the objective of the workshop: to clarify user stories in collaboration with the three key roles. They specify that each participant will bring a unique perspective to ensure a comprehensive understanding. The facilitator asks everyone to briefly introduce themselves by mentioning their role.

   Tip — Prepare an example of a misunderstood story to illustrate the importance of this workshop.

2. 2

   Selection of Stories

   10 min

   The Product Owner presents a list of user stories to review. Together, the group selects 2 to 3 priority stories to clarify. The facilitator ensures that the selection is made consensually, taking into account sprint priorities and dependencies.

   Tip — Ensure that the chosen stories are complex enough to require in-depth discussion.

3. 3

   Exploration of Requirements

   20 min per story

   For each selected story, the Product Owner details the requirements and user goal. Developers ask technical questions to understand constraints, while testers identify acceptance criteria. The facilitator encourages exchanges to ensure that all aspects are covered.

   Tip — Encourage the use of whiteboards or post-its to visualise ideas and raised questions.

4. 4

   Identification of Risks

   10 min per story

   The group discusses potential risks related to the story, such as dependencies or technical uncertainties. Testers may propose test scenarios to anticipate issues. The facilitator ensures that each risk is noted and discussed to find solutions.

   Tip — Use a risk matrix to help prioritise and visualise identified risks.

5. 5

   Conclusion and Next Steps

   10 min

   The facilitator summarises the decisions made and clarifications provided for each story. They ask the group to validate the acceptance criteria and confirm the next steps, such as updating the backlog or planning tests. They thank the participants for their collaboration.

   Tip — Take photos of the boards or post-its to keep a record of discussions and decisions.

Variants

• Include a UX designer to add an additional user perspective.
• Use BDD (Behavior Driven Development) scenarios to structure the discussion.
• Organise the workshop online using collaborative tools like Miro or MURAL.