In agile delivery teams, it’s recommended that stories and features are discussed before being developed. A checklist called “Definition of Ready” can be used as a reminder to check that the delivery team has everything needed to prepare the delivery of the feature. A key ingredient is a shared understanding of how to confirm the delivery – for the whole team.
Story shaping requires at least three people to get together. They are not amigos nor amigas. They are often three, sometimes two people, and often more. They represent the different viewpoints needed to deliver: builders mindset, testing mindset, security mindset, operations mindset, business mindset, etc.
No one person can hold all these viewpoints – at least a builders mindset and a requester/business mindset is needed.
If you skip doing story shaping your acceptance criteria and testing activities will be misaligned. And you will either have overdone the effort needed or underestimated the challenges of the story.
Complexity is a Matter of Perspective 