{"id":5117,"date":"2023-08-01T19:43:09","date_gmt":"2023-08-01T23:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/?p=5117"},"modified":"2026-03-10T20:01:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T00:01:48","slug":"what-is-epic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/what-is-epic\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an epic in Agile + how to build them&nbsp;effectively!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ever tackled a jigsaw puzzle? You know, those ones with thousands of tiny pieces. Now imagine each piece as a task in your software development project. Could be pretty overwhelming, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But what if you could group these tasks into larger, more manageable chunks? This is where understanding <strong>what epics in Agile management <\/strong>are<strong> <\/strong>can help<strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epic \u2013 sounds pretty grandiose, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;re not talking about grand battles or superheroes. Epics are bodies of work that unite user stories towards achieving common goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s look at how epics help structure and track progress effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So buckle up for this journey into Agile epics. It&#8217;s going to be&#8230;well&#8230;epic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Understanding epics in Agile development<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epics are a key concept in <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Agile_software_development\">Agile development<\/a>. But what is an epic?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An epic represents large bodies of work that are far too extensive to be tackled as one single task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epics are essentially larger-scale stories encompassing many smaller <a href=\"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/user-stories\/\">user stories<\/a>. These subtasks align with the high-level strategy. They help make progress towards business objectives manageable and measurable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epics help organize work into logical segments in the Agile methodology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;ve mentioned user stories in our previous articles. Let&#8217;s dive into what they are and how they connect to epics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Agile epics vs. user stories<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both user stories and epics are essential tools to structure work in Agile teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Agile user stories <\/strong>are short requirements written from the perspective of an end user \u2013 hence the name. They represent small increments towards achieving the bigger picture painted by epics. They break down massive goals into manageable chunks. Also, they help you focus on actual users&#8217; needs. <a href=\"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/agile-story-mapping\/\">Agile PMs will often visually map<\/a> these to understand the entire customer journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Epics<\/strong>, as mentioned, are large bodies of work that encapsulate many user stories. Think of it as an overarching goal or objective within a project. It&#8217;s usually more complex than what can be accomplished within one <a href=\"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/what-is-agile-sprint-planning\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"99\">planned sprint<\/a>. User stories usually can be completed in one sprint. So, by breaking epics into user stories, you make the work more manageable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fundamental difference between these two lies in their size and scope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An epic is a larger project (containing many user stories) spanning over weeks or even months. A user story typically fits neatly into a single sprint cycle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, if we&#8217;re developing a mobile app, introducing a suite of features could form our epic. Each feature could then become individual user story. This way, all team members share common goals via epics. Yet, they get clarity on their specific roles through user stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Examples<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s look at some real-world examples. Consider &#8220;improving app security&#8221; as an epic for our hypothetical mobile app project. In this case, related user stories could focus on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As a business owner concerned with my personal info being compromised, I want to log in to the mobile app using biometrics to ensure I\u2019m&nbsp;secure.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As a dev ops engineer building our mobile app, I need to know that our data is encrypted to ensure our users\u2019 data is&nbsp;safe.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As a dev ops engineer building our mobile app, I want to ensure we have systems to prevent bot traffic to ensure our system\u2019s&nbsp;uptime.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Introducing biometric&nbsp;authentication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encrypting data&nbsp;storage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preventing bot&nbsp;traffic<br>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each targets different aspects of the broader security improvement goal. Completing each smaller user story helps you achieve that goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto;\"> <!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --> <span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-e1d55d08-a2cf-44a3-a9a0-f3ca5ff21dfa\"> <span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-e1d55d08-a2cf-44a3-a9a0-f3ca5ff21dfa\" id=\"hs-cta-e1d55d08-a2cf-44a3-a9a0-f3ca5ff21dfa\"> <!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]--> <a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/5705808\/e1d55d08-a2cf-44a3-a9a0-f3ca5ff21dfa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img lazyload\" id=\"hs-cta-img-e1d55d08-a2cf-44a3-a9a0-f3ca5ff21dfa\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/5705808\/e1d55d08-a2cf-44a3-a9a0-f3ca5ff21dfa.png\" alt=\"New call-to-action\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/> <\/a> <\/span> <script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(5705808, 'e1d55d08-a2cf-44a3-a9a0-f3ca5ff21dfa', {\"useNewLoader\":\"true\",\"region\":\"na1\"}); <\/script> <\/span> <!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where do epics fit in the Agile framework?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Agile product management, understanding how different elements work together is essential. There&#8217;s a hierarchy that includes roadmaps, themes, epics and user stories. These tools provide structure to your product planning and execution process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Roadmaps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A product roadmap is a strategic plan that outlines the product&#8217;s direction over time. It provides an overview of what needs to be achieved and when it should be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Themes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Themes are large focus areas that span across multiple releases or sprints. They help in organizing work around specific goals or initiatives. Usually, themes are made up of several epics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, improving user experience might be an ongoing theme in your roadmap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Epics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epics are larger projects that can be broken down into smaller tasks called user stories. They contain many user stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s expand on our previous example about \u201cimproving user experience.\u201d An epic here could be \u201credesigning the onboarding experience.\u201d This would involve several tasks which can&#8217;t be completed immediately or quickly. Rather, they will take weeks or months to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>User stories<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">User stories are at the bottom of the hierarchy. They&#8217;re short descriptions from the user&#8217;s perspective about their needs from a product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A user story under our epic could be: &#8220;As a new user I want clear instructions so I can understand how to use this platform.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" data-src=\"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Epics-Hierarchy.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5124 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1080px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1080\/1080;aspect-ratio:1;width:442px;height:auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Epics-Hierarchy.png 1080w, https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Epics-Hierarchy-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Epics-Hierarchy-768x768.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding how these elements interrelate is crucial for successful product management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A roadmap sets the overall&nbsp;direction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Themes help focus efforts on key&nbsp;goals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Epics break down large projects into manageable&nbsp;parts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>User stories detail specific tasks from the end-user perspective<br>By using these tools together, you can efficiently manage your product&#8217;s&nbsp;development.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Structuring work with agile epics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to Agile development, structuring work effectively is key. Epics are powerful tools that help Agile teams do that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Breaking down epics into smaller tasks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Breaking down epics helps team members understand the scope better. This leads to more effective work management. This can also with estimating effort. Estimating smaller tasks is easier and more accurate than with one large project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tracking progress with agile epics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A critical aspect of working with epics is tracking progress towards completion. This could involve tools like<a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlassian.com\/agile\/tutorials\/burndown-charts\"> burndown charts<\/a>. They provide a visual representation of work completed versus planned sprint effort.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"636\" height=\"260\" data-src=\"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5118 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 636px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 636\/260;aspect-ratio:2.4461538461538463;width:763px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Burndown chart example &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Burndown_chart\">Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This type of visibility aids in day-to-day task handling. It also serves an important role in communication among your team. Burndown charts <em>let you track how quickly your team completes its work. <\/em>It&#8217;s a crucial factor when aligning several moving parts within an organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Managing multiple teams and their epics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s typical in Agile software development for many teams to be tackling various parts of the product roadmap. Each team may have its own epic or set of epics they&#8217;re focused on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This can get chaotic without proper coordination. The key here is transparency across teams about their respective epics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What does each epic&nbsp;entail?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How far along each epic&nbsp;is?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have the teams encountered any&nbsp;roadblocks?<br><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You want to create a shared understanding among each team member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A powerful analogy would be thinking of your organization as an orchestra. Every section (team) has its part to play (epic). Without knowing what the others are playing, you can&#8217;t create harmonious music together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Initiatives are like concertos in our symphony analogy. They connect individual pieces into a cohesive whole that drives toward a common goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every good conductor knows which musician plays when and why. Similarly, management needs visibility into progress against initiatives so that everyone moves synchronously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your project management software can be your best friend here. Jira Software, Asana, ClickUp, and similar tools support Agile project management. They&#8217;ll let you easily see how your user stories are progressing. They&#8217;ll put you in the conductor&#8217;s seat.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Managing and prioritizing epics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deciding how to prioritize epics is a crucial part of product management. It requires collaboration between team members and the product owner. They play an instrumental role in defining and refining these high-level strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prioritization hinges on multiple factors. They could include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Value delivered to&nbsp;customers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alignment with strategic&nbsp;plans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Estimated&nbsp;effort<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Risk assessment associated with each&nbsp;item<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We recently looked at <a href=\"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/product-prioritization-frameworks\/\">prioritization techniques and frameworks<\/a> in detail. Check it out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to create effective epics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s look at what makes a good epic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Understanding your epic\u2019s purpose<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First up, make sure you understand the epic&#8217;s purpose within your project&#8217;s scope. Identify the larger feature or functionality you aim to develop. How does it align with your product&#8217;s overall goals?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your user should always be at the center of any Agile epic you create. Develop a deep understanding of your users&#8217; needs and expectations from your product. Make sure that each epic delivers tangible value to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Set goals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next step towards creating your epic is setting clear goals. Be sure to consider how long it will take and set delivery goals too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Choose a metric(s) your epic should influence. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/customer-satisfaction-metrics\/\">CSAT<\/a> would be useful if your epic focused on customer satisfaction. Always ensure there&#8217;s a way to quantify success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clear goals guide you as you plan your epic (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucop.edu\/local-human-resources\/_files\/performance-appraisal\/How%20to%20write%20SMART%20Goals%20v2.pdf\">SMART goals<\/a> are a good bet). They also ensure your efforts align with your objective.Always ensure there&#8217;s a way to quantify success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Establish scope<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Determining the scope of your epic helps define what it encompasses. It also sets boundaries on what it does not cover, preventing scope creep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A common mistake is making epics too big or too small. The right size depends on various factors such as team size, sprint length, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generally speaking they should not take more than a few sprints to complete. But, they should be substantial enough that they cannot be completed in one iteration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Fill out key elements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An epic should include several key elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>title<\/strong> should be concise yet descriptive enough to provide an overview of the&nbsp;epic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The<strong> description<\/strong> provides detailed information about the epic\u2019s purpose and desired&nbsp;outcome<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>User roles<\/strong> identify who will benefit from this feature or change being&nbsp;implemented<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Acceptance criteria<\/strong> outlines the specific criteria for the epic to be considered&nbsp;complete<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These provide context about who the epic impacts and how they benefit from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Break down into user stories<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To make epics more manageable, break them down into user stories. These translate requirements into actionable tasks you can assign to team members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Choose a platform<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Selecting where you&#8217;ll manage your epic is crucial for efficient tracking and collaboration. Tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/canny.io\/case-studies\/clickup\">ClickUp<\/a>, Jira, or Trello are commonly used platforms for this task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Foster collaboration with stakeholders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make sure to share your epic and its associated user stories with stakeholders. This has many benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fosters&nbsp;collaboration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promotes&nbsp;transparency<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensures everyone is on the same&nbsp;page<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collaboration is key in Agile product development. Involve your team while creating and refining epics. This ensures everyone understands the vision and can contribute effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>8. Iterate and update<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lastly, it&#8217;s important to remember that creating an epic isn&#8217;t a one-time activity. As work progresses, you may need to iterate or update based on new insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look out for blockers.A blocker is anything preventing progress towards completing an epic. Identifying them early helps prevent delays in delivery timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s important to not only identify blockers but also develop a plan for dealing with them. This could involve assigning resources or adjusting the scope of work. Be sure to watch for blockers as your team works on the epic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Measuring progress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tracking progress is essential. A common Agile method to track the an epic&#8217;s progress is a burndown chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Burndown charts are visual representations of how fast you&#8217;re completing user stories.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"552\" height=\"313\" data-src=\"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/image-4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5120 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 552px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 552\/313;aspect-ratio:1.7635782747603834;width:760px;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Burndown charts have two axes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The vertical axis represents the amount of work remaining. This is usually measured in story&nbsp;points.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The horizontal axis represents time. As each task within an epic gets completed, you &#8220;burn down&#8221; your list of tasks. This is reflected on this chart as a downward trend&nbsp;line.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how you\u2019d use a burndown chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create your chart. At the beginning of each sprint, create a burndown chart with total estimated story points on one side and days in sprint on&nbsp;another.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Daily update. Each day, update your chart by marking off any completed tasks from remaining story points. This will result in downward movement on graph showing progress made so&nbsp;far.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Analyze &amp; adjust. Perhaps midway through sprint you notice you\u2019re not burning enough story points per day to reach zero by the end. In this case, make adjustments \u2013 either by extending timeline or reducing&nbsp;scope.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The power behind using burndowns isn\u2019t only in their simplicity. They also provide a real-time snapshot of project&#8217;s progress and health. They can help identify bottlenecks, scope creep, or other issues that may be hindering your team\u2019s productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember \u2013 the goal is not just to burn down tasks. It\u2019s also to deliver value incrementally and continuously throughout the life cycle of an epic.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who are an epic&#8217;s stakeholders?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epics involve various stakeholders who play crucial roles in their planning and execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Product managers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The product manager often initiates the epic. They define its scope and set strategic goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Project managers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project manager plays a pivotal role in planning and organizing the epic. They ensure it aligns with project timelines and budget constraints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Software engineering<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The software development team is responsible for actually building the user stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Marketing team<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The marketing team helps promote the value of your epic to your customer. They also have valuable market insights to contribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Customer success team<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The customer success team leverages completed epics as opportunities to engage customers. They can often share customer feedback that can help guide your epics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Business analysts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A business analyst interprets data from epics to make product development decisions. They provide valuable insights that steer the future direction of products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>An executive\u2019s role<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Executives use information gleaned from epics when making high-level decisions. That could include resource allocation or company strategy alignment with product development plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epics are a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders. They each contribute their unique skills, insights, and perspectives. Make sure to keep them engaged as you plan and build your epics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>An epic example<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s look at an example that ties everything we&#8217;ve talked about together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Imagine you are managing a SaaS product. You&#8217;ve noticed a big drop in engaged users and want to fix that. First, you gather input from your team and stakeholders. You realize think that the product team should improve user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The theme<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your theme could be &#8220;Improving user experience&#8221;. This broad objective encapsulates various aspects of your project. That could include enhancing website design, updating mobile version, or improving site navigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The epics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under this theme, there might be several epics like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Redesign website&nbsp;interface<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Update mobile&nbsp;version<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve site&nbsp;navigation<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are large-scale tasks which require significant effort and time to complete. But, they contribute substantially towards achieving your overall goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>User stories supporting the epics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Redesign website interface<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">User stories under this epic may include<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;As a new user, I want the registration process to be simple so that I can quickly create an account.&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">or<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;As an existing user, I would like more personalized dashboard so it becomes easier for me to navigate.&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Update mobile version<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Example user stories could include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;As a frequent mobile user, I want an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface on my iPhone.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">or<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;As a mobile user, I&#8217;d like if the website connected to my Maps app.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Improve site navigation<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">User stories under this epic could include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;As a first-time visitor, I wish for clear menu options enabling easy exploration.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">or<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018As a frequent user I want quick access to my most-used features.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each of these user stories provide valuable insights into the needs of your users. Completing them will definitely help your theme of improving user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Acceptance criteria for these epics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s look at what acceptance criteria could be for these examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Epic: Redesign website interface<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The registration process should take no longer than 2 minutes to&nbsp;complete.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Users should receive a confirmation email within 5 minutes of completing&nbsp;registration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The interface should pass usability testing with at least a 90% success&nbsp;rate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Epic: Update mobile version<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The app should be optimized for the latest two versions of&nbsp;iOS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All main features available on the website should be no more than 3 taps&nbsp;away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The app should pass Apple&#8217;s app store usability and accessibility&nbsp;guidelines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These capture core functionality your epic aims to provide. And, when they\u2019re complete, you know you\u2019re done.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Be epic \u2013 build better products<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;ve covered a lot in this post!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epics are a powerful tool in the Agile framework. They help you can work towards a big goal while keeping things manageable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re looking to work on epics driven by what your users really want, get your free Canny account. It&#8217;s a <a href=\"https:\/\/canny.io\">user feedback tool <\/a>that lets you track feedback and identify new features for your product.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unpack what an epic is with this useful guide. Learn how epics streamline project management and boost team collaboration in Agile development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":5121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[366],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-glossary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"modified_by":"Eric Hoppe","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5117\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canny.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}