In agile requirements engineering, what does the INVEST acronym stand for when describing a good user story?

Introduction / Context:
The INVEST acronym is widely used in agile methods such as Scrum and Extreme Programming to describe the qualities of a well written user story. Exam questions about INVEST check whether you understand these qualities and can recall what each letter stands for. Strong understanding of INVEST helps analysts write stories that are easier to estimate, prioritise, and implement.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The context is agile software development and user story writing.
• INVEST is a memory aid for key quality attributes of requirements at the user story level.
• Each letter should map to one clear word that describes a property of a good story.

Concept / Approach:
INVEST stands for Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, and Testable. A story is Independent when it can be delivered without being tightly coupled to many other stories. It is Negotiable when it is a starting point for discussion, not a rigid contract. Valuable means that it delivers clear value to the customer or user. Estimable indicates that the team can roughly size the effort. Small means it can fit into a single iteration or sprint. Testable means that clear acceptance criteria exist so the team can verify completion.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that there are six letters in INVEST and each letter expands to a specific word.Step 2: Match I to Independent, capturing the idea that a story should stand on its own as much as possible.Step 3: Match N to Negotiable, highlighting collaboration rather than strict contracts.Step 4: Match V to Valuable, E to Estimable, S to Small, and T to Testable, all of which reflect practical qualities that support planning and delivery.Step 5: Compare the options and select the one that lists exactly these six words, which is option A.

Verification / Alternative check:
Agile literature and many practitioner guides cite the same six words for INVEST. If any word in the expansion does not fit into these standard terms, that answer is likely incorrect. Looking at the distractor options, each introduces words that are not part of the classic acronym, which confirms that the standard definition in option A is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B uses words such as Integrated and Normalised, which are not part of INVEST and sound more like database design concepts. Option C contains generic positive words but fails to match the canonical list. Option D mixes general business buzzwords and also deviates from the recognised expansion used in agile communities.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Estimable with Easy or Efficient and may replace Independent with Iterative. Another frequent error is forgetting that stories must be testable; without clear tests, the team cannot confidently mark a story as done. Remembering the standard six words and understanding the reasoning behind each one helps avoid these mistakes and leads to higher quality user stories in real projects.

Final Answer:
Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, Testable