User Stories

User Stories and Workflows

User Types and Personas

Primary Users

1. Sarah – Beginner Native Plant Enthusiast

  • Background: Home gardener interested in native plants, limited experience
  • Goals: Learn how to successfully propagate common native species
  • Frustrations: Conflicting advice online, doesn’t know which methods work
  • Tech Comfort: Basic internet user, prefers simple interfaces

2. Mike – Experienced Propagator

  • Background: 10+ years growing natives, involved in local restoration group
  • Goals: Share knowledge, learn new techniques, connect with others
  • Frustrations: No central place to share detailed experiences
  • Tech Comfort: Comfortable with technology, willing to contribute content

3. Dr. Emma Chen – Restoration Project Manager

  • Background: Ecologist managing large-scale restoration projects
  • Goals: Find reliable propagation data for project planning, train volunteers
  • Frustrations: Needs success rates and regional variations for planning
  • Tech Comfort: High, uses technical databases and research tools

4. James – Nursery Owner

  • Background: Commercial native plant nursery, 15 years experience
  • Goals: Verify best practices, stay updated on techniques, build reputation
  • Frustrations: Customers asking about species he doesn’t grow
  • Tech Comfort: Moderate, focuses on practical information

Secondary Users

5. Maria – Teacher

  • Background: Primary school teacher, environmental education focus
  • Goals: Find simple, reliable information for school projects
  • Tech Comfort: Moderate, needs clearly structured information

6. Tom – Conservation Volunteer

  • Background: Retired, volunteers with DOC and local groups
  • Goals: Learn propagation for volunteer work, contribute time to projects
  • Tech Comfort: Basic, prefers straightforward processes

Core User Stories

Discovery and Research

Story 1: Finding Plant Information

As Sarah (beginner), I want to search for a native plant by its common name so that I can learn how to grow it.

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Search works with both common and scientific names
  • Results show clear identification photos
  • Basic growing information is prominently displayed
  • Related plants are suggested

Current Site Reference: https://feaa.info/wordpress/grownative/the-plants/ Enhancement needed: Add search functionality and filtering

Story 2: Comparing Growing Methods

As Dr. Emma (restoration manager), I want to compare propagation success rates for different methods so that I can plan project timelines and budgets.

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Success rates displayed with confidence levels
  • Methods can be filtered by region and conditions
  • Data sources and sample sizes are transparent
  • Export capability for project planning

Story 3: Regional Adaptation

As Tom (conservation volunteer), I want to see which plants are suitable for my region so that I can focus on locally appropriate species.

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Filter plants by region/climate zone
  • Regional growing calendar available
  • Local success stories highlighted
  • Climate considerations explained

Community Contribution

Story 4: Sharing Success Experience

As Mike (experienced propagator), I want to share my successful propagation experience so that others can learn from my methods.

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Simple form to describe method and results
  • Photo upload for progress documentation
  • Ability to rate success and difficulty
  • Moderation process to ensure quality

Current Site Reference: https://feaa.info/wordpress/grownative/piper-excelsum/ Enhancement needed: Structured contribution form instead of just comments

Story 5: Building Reputation

As James (nursery owner), I want my contributions to be recognized so that I can build credibility in the community.

Acceptance Criteria:

  • User profile showing expertise and contributions
  • Recognition for verified/expert contributors
  • Ability to link to business/organization
  • Contribution history and success rates

Story 6: Getting Expert Advice

As Sarah (beginner), I want to ask questions about my specific situation so that I can get personalized help.

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Question submission system
  • Expert contributors can respond
  • Questions linked to relevant plant species
  • Email notifications for responses

Content Management

Story 7: Moderated Contributions

As site administrator, I want to review user contributions before publication so that information quality is maintained.

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Pending contributions queue
  • Quick approval/rejection workflow
  • Ability to edit contributions before approval
  • Communication with contributors about changes

Story 8: Content Completeness

As site administrator, I want to identify plants lacking information so that I can prioritize content development.

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Dashboard showing information completeness
  • Priority lists for missing content
  • Bulk editing capabilities
  • Progress tracking over time

DECISION REQUIRED: Feature Prioritization

Please rank these user story themes (1-6, 1 being highest priority):

  • [ ] Basic plant search and information display
  • [ ] User contribution and sharing system
  • [ ] Expert recognition and credibility features
  • [ ] Regional customization and filtering
  • [ ] Success rate tracking and analytics
  • [ ] Educational content and guidance

Detailed Workflows

Workflow 1: New User Finding Plant Information

Current Experience: https://feaa.info/wordpress/grownative/ User must browse by plant list or search site

Enhanced Workflow:

  1. Landing Page
    • Search bar prominently displayed
    • Popular plants featured
    • Browse by categories (type, region, difficulty)
  2. Search Results
    • Plant cards with photos and basic info
    • Filter options (light requirements, plant type, region)
    • Sort by popularity, difficulty, or alphabetical
  3. Plant Species Page
    • Clear identification section with multiple photos
    • Structured information tabs (Description, Growing, Propagation)
    • User experiences and ratings visible
    • Related plants suggested
  4. Getting Started
    • Clear action steps for propagation
    • Difficulty rating and time expectations
    • Links to detailed guides and external resources

Workflow 2: Experienced User Contributing Knowledge

Current Experience: https://feaa.info/wordpress/grownative/piper-excelsum/ Limited to commenting at bottom of page

Enhanced Workflow:

  1. User Registration/Login
    • Simple registration process
    • Profile setup with experience level
    • Optional business/organization affiliation
  2. Contribution Options
    • “Share Your Experience” button on plant pages
    • “Add New Plant” for species not yet covered
    • “Suggest Improvements” for existing content
  3. Experience Submission Form
    • Structured fields matching site organization
    • Photo upload with progress documentation
    • Success rating and method details
    • Regional/seasonal context
  4. Review and Publication
    • Submission confirmation
    • Moderation queue (admin review)
    • Publication notification
    • Community feedback opportunity

Workflow 3: Expert Verification Process

For maintaining information quality:

  1. Expert Identification
    • Application process for expert status
    • Verification of credentials/experience
    • Different levels (Contributor, Expert, Authority)
  2. Content Review
    • Expert-only review queue
    • Ability to verify/flag user contributions
    • Collaborative editing for accuracy
  3. Quality Assurance
    • Regular content audits
    • Fact-checking against authoritative sources
    • Community reporting of issues

DECISION REQUIRED: User Registration Strategy

Option A: Open Registration

  • Anyone can register and contribute immediately
  • All contributions moderated before publication
  • Focus on community building

Option B: Invitation/Application Based

  • New users apply with experience credentials
  • Faster publication for approved contributors
  • Higher barrier to entry but better quality

Option C: Hybrid Approach

  • Open registration for basic features (commenting, questions)
  • Application required for content contribution
  • Progressive trust system

Your preference: ________________

Mobile App User Stories (Future Consideration)

Story 9: Field Identification

As Tom (conservation volunteer), I want to identify plants while hiking so that I can learn about propagation opportunities.

Mobile-Specific Features:

  • Offline plant database access
  • Camera-based plant identification
  • GPS marking of interesting specimens
  • Photo journal with location data

Story 10: Progress Tracking

As Sarah (beginner), I want to track my propagation attempts so that I can learn from successes and failures.

Mobile-Specific Features:

  • Personal propagation journal
  • Photo progress documentation
  • Reminder notifications for care tasks
  • Success/failure tracking with notes

Story 11: Seasonal Reminders

As Mike (experienced propagator), I want to be reminded of optimal timing for seed collection so that I don’t miss opportunities.

Mobile-Specific Features:

  • Location-based seasonal calendars
  • Push notifications for optimal timing
  • Weather integration for collection planning
  • Community updates on local conditions

User Interface Requirements

DECISION REQUIRED: Interface Complexity

Simple Interface (Recommended for Phase 1):

  • Clean, uncluttered design
  • Minimal navigation options
  • Focus on essential features
  • Mobile-responsive standard design

Advanced Interface:

  • Rich filtering and sorting options
  • Advanced search with multiple criteria
  • Dashboard for power users
  • Customizable views and preferences

Accessibility Requirements

Essential Accessibility:

  • Alt text for all images
  • Keyboard navigation support
  • Screen reader compatibility
  • High contrast color options

Enhanced Accessibility:

  • Multiple language support (English/Māori)
  • Text size adjustment
  • Voice search capability
  • Simple language alternatives

DECISION REQUIRED: Language Support

English Only (Phase 1):

  • Focus on English content
  • Māori plant names included
  • Simplified development

Bilingual (English/Māori):

  • Full site translation capability
  • Cultural context preservation
  • More complex development

Success Metrics by User Type

Community Growth Metrics

  • New Users: Registration rate and retention
  • Active Contributors: Monthly active content creators
  • Expert Participation: Verified experts contributing regularly
  • Content Quality: User ratings of information usefulness

Engagement Metrics

  • Sarah (Beginner): Time spent on plant pages, return visits
  • Mike (Experienced): Contribution frequency, community interactions
  • Dr. Emma (Professional): Data export usage, project references
  • James (Commercial): Profile views, customer acquisition

Content Metrics

  • Information Completeness: Percentage of plants with full propagation guides
  • Regional Coverage: Geographic distribution of success stories
  • Method Diversity: Variety of propagation techniques documented
  • Update Frequency: How often information is refreshed

DECISION REQUIRED: Community Moderation Strategy

Moderation Approach

Option A: Pre-Publication Moderation

  • All contributions reviewed before going live
  • Ensures quality but slows publication
  • Higher admin workload

Option B: Post-Publication Moderation

  • Content published immediately
  • Community reporting for issues
  • Faster publication, some quality risk

Option C: Trust-Based System

  • New users: pre-moderation
  • Established users: post-moderation
  • Experts: immediate publication

Content Guidelines

Essential Guidelines:

  • Factual accuracy requirements
  • Photo quality standards
  • Appropriate language standards
  • Attribution and copyright compliance

Community Standards:

  • Respectful communication
  • Constructive feedback only
  • No commercial promotion in content
  • Acknowledgment of information sources

Implementation Priority by User Story

Phase 1: Core Functionality (Weeks 1-6)

  1. Plant Information Display – Stories 1, 3
  2. Basic Search and Filtering – Story 1
  3. User Registration System – Stories 4, 5
  4. Simple Contribution Forms – Story 4

Phase 2: Community Features (Weeks 7-12)

  1. Expert Recognition System – Story 5
  2. Advanced Moderation Tools – Story 7
  3. Question and Answer System – Story 6
  4. Regional Customization – Story 3

Phase 3: Advanced Features (Future)

  1. Success Rate Analytics – Story 2
  2. Mobile App Integration – Stories 9, 10, 11
  3. Advanced Search and AI Features
  4. Multi-language Support

Next Steps:

  1. Make prioritization decisions marked above
  2. Create detailed wireframes for top priority workflows
  3. Define specific acceptance criteria for Phase 1 features
  4. Plan user testing approach for key workflows

Document Status: Draft for Review User Experience Review Required: Yes