# Theme Epic Story

> Structure product work from strategic themes to epics, stories, and tasks. Use when organizing backlogs, roadmaps, releases, stakeholder communication, or large initiatives into outcome-linked delivery units; avoid for writing one story only, requirements analysis, or effort estimates.

- Skill: `flpbalada/theme-epic-story` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add flpbalada/theme-epic-story`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/flpbalada/theme-epic-story/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Product & Planning, Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: flpbalada (https://skillmd.com/u/flpbalada)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/flpbalada/theme-epic-story

---


# Theme, Epic, Story

## Goal

Structure work from strategy to execution.
Keep user value separate from implementation tasks.

## Hierarchy

- Theme: strategic outcome. Why this matters.
- Epic: major capability. What area changes.
- Story: user need. What value is delivered.
- Task: implementation work. How to build it.

## Rules

- Themes need measurable outcomes.
- Epics must fit inside a planning horizon.
- Stories must be user-centered and testable.
- Tasks belong under stories, not beside themes.
- Split oversized epics by workflow, role, data lifecycle, platform, or release slice.
- Split oversized stories until they fit one sprint.
- Keep non-goals explicit.

## Flow

1. Define theme goal and success metric.
2. List epics needed to reach the goal.
3. Define each epic scope and out-of-scope.
4. Break each epic into stories.
5. Add acceptance criteria to each story.
6. Identify dependencies.
7. Mark MVP vs later work.

## Story Format

```md
As a [user type],
I want [capability],
so that [benefit].
```

## INVEST Check

- Independent.
- Negotiable.
- Valuable.
- Estimable.
- Small.
- Testable.

## Resources

- [User Story Mapping - Jeff Patton](https://www.jpattonassociates.com/user-story-mapping/)
- [Agile Estimating and Planning - Mike Cohn](https://www.mountaingoatsoftware.com/books/agile-estimating-and-planning)
- [Essential Scrum - Kenneth Rubin](https://www.innolution.com/essential-scrum)

## Output

```md
## Theme
- Name:
- Goal:
- Success metrics:

## Epics
- [epic]: scope, out-of-scope, dependencies

## Release
- MVP:
- Later:
- Non-goals:
```