What is an Epic in Agile? Overview, Benefits, and Examples

Are you struggling to manage large, complex projects effectively in Agile? Introducing Agile Epics! These are extensive bodies of work that can be divided into smaller, manageable tasks called user stories. It represents a significant feature, function, or strategic goal that teams aim to deliver based on customer or business needs. 

Unlike user stories, which focus on specific tasks, Epics provide a broader perspective, helping teams maintain alignment with larger goals. Want to know how to effectively manage and execute Epics? Dive into the details of Agile Epics in this blog and optimise your Project Management approach! 

Table of Contents 

1) What is an Epic? 

2) Agile Epic 

3) How Does an Epic Fit into Agile Development? 

4) Benefits of Epics 

5) How to Write Epics? 

6) Agile Epic Example 

7) Conclusion 

What is an Epic? 

An Epic is a large collection of user stories in agile development that align with a broader strategic objective. When multiple Epics share a common goal, they are grouped under a larger business objective called a theme. Additionally, a user story is designed to be completed within a single agile sprint. Whereas an Epic usually spans several sprints due to its larger scope.
 

Agile Epic 

An Epic is a substantial body of work that can be divided into smaller stories, often referred to as “Issues” in Jira. These Epics typically involve multiple teams, span several projects, and can be monitored across various boards. 

Epics are generally completed over a series of sprints. As the team progresses and gathers information from development and customer feedback, user stories are adjusted accordingly. The essence of Agile Epics lies in their flexible scope, which adapts based on customer input and team dynamics. 

How Does an Epic Fit into Agile Development? 

As previously mentioned, an Epic occupies a middle position between a theme and a story in the agile development hierarchy. A theme outlines the team’s overarching strategy for its product. To convert this strategy into actionable steps, the team must undertake several additional tasks.  

Initially, the theme is divided into multiple Epics, each representing a smaller strategic plan. Subsequently, each Epic is further broken down into user stories. A story signifies a small unit of development work that enables a user to accomplish a specific task or goal within the product. 

Epics Within a Complete Agile Program 

An Epic should equip the development team with everything they need to succeed. Basically, it represents the highest tier in their work hierarchy. However, understanding how an Epic fits within other agile structures is important for daily development work. 

A product roadmap outlines the plan for how a product will evolve over time. A theme is an organisational goal that drives the creation of Epics and initiatives. The product roadmap is visualised as a set of initiatives plotted along a timeline.  

Breaking down initiatives into Epics helps ensure the team’s daily work, represented in smaller stories, aligns with overall business goals. A series of completed Epics drives a specific initiative, ensuring the product continues to develop and evolve in response to market and customer demands, all within the framework of organisational themes. 

Benefits of Epics 

Now that we understand what Epics entail let’s explore some of their key benefits: 

Better Organisation: Epics help you consolidate your ideas and gather all user stories in one place. This simplifies project management and ensures no key requirements are overlooked. 

Improved Time Management: By breaking Epics into sprints, you can create a more effective project timeline. Assigning story points to gauge sprint difficulty adds an additional layer of precision to your time estimates. 

Clear Client Priorities: Agile teams produce higher-quality products when they fully understand client needs. With multiple user stories detailing specific requirements, there should be no ambiguity about the final deliverables. 

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How to Write Epics? 

It’s a good practice to write your Epic before your user stories. This way, it serves as a broad headline for your overall large story. You can then delve into more specific details with each individual story.  

This approach helps you determine your project’s scope early on while allowing time for user research for each requirement later. When you’re ready to create your own Agile Epic, follow these steps: 

1) Outline Your User Personas 

Determine the target audience for this project. Whether you are adding a product feature for existing customers or enhancing your onboarding system to attract new users, create fictional personas for each user story. Outline their pain points and key requirements. 

2) Organise Your Stories 

Each Epic will consist of a large collection of user stories to be delivered. Assign each story to an iteration or sprint, creating a clear project roadmap. This will help you estimate the duration of your Epic. For tips on creating user stories, check out our dedicated section. 

3) Request Feedback 

Gather user feedback at various stages of your Epic. Pay attention to suggestions and incorporate them into your Epic plan. If a user story needs adjustment or removal, now is the time to make those changes. 

Agile Epic Example 

This Epic explains the planning and execution of the July 2050 lunar expedition, involving multiple teams to ensure a smooth and innovative launch process. It includes stories addressing both routine tasks and enhancements across various areas, from customer experience to technical improvements in spaceflight operations. 

The software team supporting the purchasing of tickets for the July 2050 lunar expedition might structure their Epic as:
 

Meanwhile, the propulsion teams support ensuring the spacecraft’s performance and safety during the lunar mission. They contribute to the same Epic with these stories:
 

At the same time, the Customer Experience Team focuses on enhancing the journey of lunar tourists before, during, and after the expedition. So, they might structure their Epic as:
 

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Conclusion 

In conclusion, an Agile Epic is a large body of work that can be broken down into smaller, manageable tasks known as user stories. It represents a high-level objective or goal, typically involving multiple teams and sprints to complete. Agile teams can organise complex features or requirements into an Epic. They can maintain a clear focus on delivering value incrementally while staying aligned with overall business objectives. 

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