Story Relationships: Epics, Dependencies, and Traces

Stories don’t exist in isolation—they connect, depend, and trace back to bigger goals. The real power of user stories unfolds when you understand how they relate.

I’ve seen teams build entire features without realizing their stories were disconnected from the product vision. That’s why modeling relationships isn’t just about diagrams—it’s about clarity, alignment, and accountability.

By the end of this chapter, you’ll be able to organize stories using epics, map dependencies with confidence, and create traceability diagrams that tell a coherent story from idea to delivery.

Understanding User Story Hierarchy

Not every story is created equal. Some are broad, strategic, and long-term—others are precise, tactical, and sprint-ready. That’s where hierarchy comes in.

At the top is the epic—a large body of work that captures a major user goal or business capability. Think: “Enable secure login with multi-factor authentication.”

Below it are features, which break down epics into deliverable chunks. For example: “Allow users to set up a one-time password via email.”

Finally, user stories are the smallest units: “As a user, I want to receive a 6-digit OTP via email so I can verify my identity.”

The Power of the Epic

Epics are not just labels—they’re containers for related stories. They help product owners prioritize at scale, create roadmap themes, and align teams around shared objectives.

A common mistake is treating epics as if they’re stories. Never commit to delivering an epic in a sprint. Instead, use epics to group stories that share a purpose.

How to Build a User Story Hierarchy

1. Start with the business outcome: Ask, “What problem are we solving?” This becomes your epic.
2. Break it into features: Identify major deliverables. Each feature should be a logical phase of the epic.
3. Write stories for each feature: Focus on one user, one action, one benefit. Use the “As a… I want… so that…” format.
4. Link stories to the epic: Use traceability tools or labels (e.g., Epic ID: #LOGIN-001).

Let’s say you’re building a payment system. The epic is “Support recurring billing.” The feature: “Allow users to set up monthly auto-pay.” The story: “As a subscriber, I want to schedule a monthly payment so I don’t miss my renewal.”

This hierarchy keeps your backlog focused and your planning transparent.

Mapping Dependencies Between Stories

Not all stories can be built independently. Some require inputs from others. These are dependencies, and ignoring them leads to blocked sprints, wasted effort, and confusion.

There are three main types:

• Upstream dependency: Story A must be completed before Story B can begin.
• Downstream dependency: Story B depends on Story A’s output.
• Parallel dependency: Two stories must be completed before a third can start (e.g., both a profile and payment setup are needed before checkout).

When Dependencies Are a Red Flag

If you see too many dependencies, ask: “Is this a sign of poor decomposition?” A well-sliced story should be self-contained.

But when dependencies are unavoidable—like in integrations or system-level changes—document them clearly.

Tools for Dependency Mapping

Use simple dependency graphs or visual modeling tools to map relationships. In Visual Paradigm, you can:

• Draw dependency arrows from Story A to Story B.
• Label arrows with constraints (e.g., “Must complete before,” “Data required from”).
• Use color codes: red = blocking, yellow = high risk, green = independent.

For example:

Story: Create User Profile (ID: U-001) → Story: Enable Payment Gateway (ID: P-002)

This shows that the payment gateway can’t be integrated until the user profile exists.

Establishing Traceability with Diagrams

Traceability is about answering: “Where did this story come from? Where does it go?” It’s not just compliance—it’s transparency.

Traceability diagrams connect user stories back to their source—epics, business goals, or even regulatory requirements.

They help you:

• Verify that work aligns with strategy.
• Explain decisions in retrospectives.
• Support audits and compliance.

How to Build a Traceability Diagram

Start with the epic or business goal at the top. Draw lines to its features, then to the individual user stories.

On the reverse side, link stories to acceptance criteria and test cases. This forms a bidirectional map.

Real Example: Healthcare Portal

Consider a story: “As a patient, I want to view my medical history so I can track my treatment.”

Traceability path:

1. Epic: “Provide patient access to health records”
2. Feature: “Display past appointments and test results”
3. Story: “View medical history”
4. Acceptance Criteria: “Display records from the last 2 years”
5. Test Case: “Verify data retrieval for user ID 12345”

Now, if a stakeholder asks why a feature was delayed, you can point to this chain and show the impact.

Best Practices for Traceability Diagrams

Practice	Why It Matters
Use unique IDs for every artifact	Enables precise linking across tools.
Review traceability in sprint planning	Prevents stories from being “lost” in the backlog.
Keep diagrams updated as stories evolve	Outdated maps mislead teams.
Share diagrams with stakeholders	Builds trust and reduces rework.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even with good intentions, teams fall into traps:

• Over-architecting relationships: Not every story needs a dependency or traceability link. Focus on what’s critical.
• Letting diagrams become static: A traceability diagram that’s never updated becomes clutter. Treat it as living documentation.
• Ignoring dependency risks: A story blocked by another may not show up in velocity. Track dependencies in sprint reviews.

My rule: If a story can’t be tested, deployed, or validated without another story, call it out. Use dependency tags in your backlog.

Integrating Relationships into Your Workflow

Don’t wait until planning to think about relationships. Build them in from the start.

Here’s how to embed them:

1. During backlog refinement: Review epics, identify features, and assign stories.
2. During sprint planning: Identify dependencies and adjust sprint goals.
3. Throughout the sprint: Update dependency status in daily standups.
4. In retrospectives: Evaluate which dependencies caused delays and why.

Use visual tools like Kanban boards or digital whiteboards. Color-code stories: green (independent), yellow (pending input), red (blocked).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I decide if a story belongs in an epic?

Ask: “Does this story contribute to a larger user goal or business capability?” If yes, it likely belongs under an epic. If it’s a standalone feature like “Reset password,” it may not need one.

Can a user story have multiple dependencies?

Yes—but it’s a red flag. If a story depends on three others, ask: “Can this be split or redesigned to reduce coupling?” High dependency counts often signal poor decomposition.

Do I need traceability diagrams for every story?

No. Focus traceability on high-impact, regulated, or complex stories. For example, financial, medical, or compliance-related features benefit most.

How do I maintain traceability in large teams?

Use a shared model (like Visual Paradigm) with role-based access. Assign ownership: one person maintains the epic → feature → story map. Update it during refinement.

What’s the difference between dependency and overlap?

Dependency means one story relies on another’s output. Overlap means two stories share resources (e.g., same database), but either can proceed independently. Use dependencies to manage sequencing.

Should I link acceptance criteria in traceability diagrams?

Yes—especially for regulated domains. A traceability diagram should show: Epic → Feature → Story → Acceptance Criteria → Test Case. This ensures no step is skipped.