Yesterday, we mapped usage signals to clear hypotheses and product goals. Today, we try to put that insight into the Sprint backlog without over-engineering. The aim is a thin vertical slice: one incremental change that travels every layer of the stack, carries its telemetry, and can prove or kill the hypothesis inside a single Sprint. This is no easy task for sure; we need all the help we can get!
Frame the Job Story.
A Job Story keeps the focus on user behavior and context.
When I finish refining a data set I want an obvious Download CSV action So I can export results without hunting menus
Keep the trigger, motivation, and expected outcome in one breath, no technology words.
Define the Slice.
A slice is vertical if it touches
UI Visual affordance, button or link
Service Endpoint or controller to serve the new action
Data Event instrumented for analytics
Everything else waits, no batch refactor, no style overhaul.
Embed Telemetry on Day 1.
Add two events to your tracking plan before coding starts:
| Event Name | Trigger | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| download_csv_clicked | Button click | page, plan_tier |
| download_csv_success | File stream starts | file_rows, file_size_kb |
Instrumentation in the slice ensures Definition of Done can include a metric check.
Write Acceptance Criteria that Test the Hypothesis.
Use clear, observable statements, one must reference the target metric.
Given an analyst with a filtered data set When the page loads Then a Download CSV button is visible above the results table Given the button is visible When the analyst clicks it Then a CSV file begins downloading within 3 s And the event download_csv_clicked is fired once Given the feature flag is on for 5% of users When mixpanel reports funnel drop-off at Export after 48 h Then drop-off is ≤ 25%
Three to five criteria are enough, every clause is testable by automation or by checking the analytics dashboard.
Use Feature Flags for Safe Rollout.
Wrap the slice with a
download_export_buttonflag default offRelease to 5% of traffic, monitor the funnel widget you set up on Monday
Expand to 100% only if drop-off improvement holds for 48 h
Flags let you learn without blocking other work, then retire or hard-code once metrics meet the goal.
Create the Backlog Item.
Story ID BA-452 Title Add prominent Download CSV button Job Story When I finish refining a data set I want an obvious Download CSV action so I can export results quickly Telemetry Events download_csv_clicked, download_csv_success Acceptance Criteria see Gherkin above Story Points 3
Add labels Evidence-Driven, Export Flow, and link the Mixpanel chart for instant context.
Next Step.
Tomorrow we rank slices with impact, confidence, and effort using an evidence-weighted radar. By scoring each story on real data you help the team pick work that moves the metric first, keeps stakeholders aligned, and protects developer focus.
Bring two or three slices like today’s example and be ready to stack-rank them in tomorrow's post “Prioritize with Evidence Weight.”