What should user stories have passed before they can be back promoted?

User stories should pass quality gates such as manual, unit, and regression testing before they can be back promoted. This is essential because these quality gates ensure that the user stories meet the necessary standards for functionality, reliability, and performance. Manual testing verifies that the user stories work as intended in a real-world scenario, while unit testing checks the smallest components for correctness. Regression testing is crucial as it ensures that new changes do not negatively impact existing functionality.

Passing these quality gates is a critical part of the development process, as it helps to maintain a high quality of deliverables, reduces the likelihood of defects in production, and ensures that the code integrates well with previous work. This thorough testing process builds confidence that the user stories are ready to contribute positively to the overall project when back promoted, thereby facilitating smoother deployments and enhancing the stability of the system.