Slicing Stories Vertically vs. Horizontally

Should we be slicing stories vertically or horizontally? Does it even matter?   Should we organize the requirements in our user stories by architectural layers or by small units of functionality?    Both approaches divide the work up into smaller batches, but what good are pieces of software if they're not actually usable? That's what happens when we slice stories horizontally (e.g. a user story to build a non-functional screen).    Horizontal slicing brings on risks to the organization, like: Prematurely prescribing an implementation Lengthening the feedback loop Delaying value delivery Misaligning user story delivery metrics Vertical slicing, however, allows our teams to be agile by ensuring the delivery of functional, valuable capabilities driven by user needs and feedback

Om Podcasten

There is a lot of material on how a team should operate in an agile manner. There is also a lot of material for leadership as to the benefits of agility, the mindset, etc. But there is not a lot of material directed towards those folks who sit in between. Agile Bites breaks down key Lean and Agile concepts and practices for the people who are often tasked with supporting these things. People who may have to be redefining their roles in a world of incremental delivery. Or maybe they’ve been put in the middle of an “agile transformation” and things are not going as well as promised.