Use case vs. user story: How and when to use each

In product management, effectively communicating customer needs to development teams is crucial, and this often involves using either use cases or user stories. Use cases provide a detailed description of how a system should function, serving as a comprehensive document for stakeholder communication, but they can be time-consuming and complex. Conversely, user stories focus on the user's perspective, addressing the "what, why, and who" of a feature, and are favored in agile environments for their simplicity and adaptability, though they lack in-depth technical detail. While use cases are system behavior-centric, user stories are more user-centric, and both have their own strengths and limitations. Product managers can choose the approach that best fits their project needs, and sometimes integrating both methods can enhance understanding, especially in complex scenarios. Regardless of the method, the goal remains to accurately capture and address customer needs to build successful products.