What is a primary purpose of using the INVEST criteria when writing user stories?

The primary purpose of using the INVEST criteria when writing user stories is to guarantee that each story is manageable and valuable. INVEST stands for Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, and Testable. Each aspect of the criteria helps to ensure that user stories are well-crafted for the agile environment.

When stories are independent, they can be prioritized and worked on without reliance on other stories, making them easier to manage within a sprint. By being negotiable, they invite collaboration and discussion, leading to better clarification of requirements. User stories must also be valuable to the customer or user, ensuring that the development efforts directly contribute to delivering high-quality products. Being estimable allows for accurate sprint planning and resource allocation, while being small makes it feasible to complete them within a single iteration. Finally, ensuring stories are testable allows for clear verification of that value.

This holistic approach is essential for maintaining efficiency, focus, and clarity in agile development, ultimately driving successful project outcomes.