Ticket templates

INVEST criteria ticket template

INVEST is a checklist for good backlog items: Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small and Testable. Writing a ticket against all six criteria exposes stories that are too big, too vague or blocked before the sprint starts.

The template

**Title**:
[Tag] Implement feature according to INVEST criteria

| Criterion   | Description                             |
|-------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Independent | Can be built and tested in isolation    |
| Negotiable  | Scope is flexible if needed             |
| Valuable    | Delivers clear value to user or system  |
| Estimable   | Rough time estimate: X hours / days     |
| Small       | Fits in a single commit/PR              |
| Testable    | Has clear ways to validate via tests    |

Example: from rough idea to ticket

What you type into KanBandit, and the ticket it turns into with this template.

Tips for applying INVEST

1. 01Use it as a gate, not a form

   If a criterion cannot be filled in honestly, the story is not ready. That is the point of INVEST.

2. 02Fix "not small" by splitting

   Split by workflow step or by data type, not by technical layer. Each piece should still be valuable on its own.

3. 03Write down what is negotiable

   Naming what is out of scope ("no Excel for now") prevents scope creep and makes estimates more reliable.

4. 04Make "testable" concrete

   Name the check that proves it works. "Matches a known CSV file" can be automated; "works correctly" cannot.

Other ticket templates

• User story template
• BDD template
• Task checklist template
• Problem-solution-impact template