A computer-implemented method includes receiving, by a processing system, a user story for developing software. The processing system characterizes the user story to determine a plurality of attributes. The processing system classifies a complexity of the user story associated with the attributes. The processing system determines a history score of the user story based on a similarity of one or more previously analyzed user stories having a similar complexity. The processing system recommends one or more modifications to the user story to increase alignment of one or more attributes of the user story with the one or more previously analyzed user stories.