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Project Management & Agile · Foundational

Spike

A timeboxed research or prototyping effort to reduce uncertainty or answer a technical question.

Definition

Spikes come from XP and produce knowledge rather than shippable features; results inform estimates and design. Spikes can be functional or technical.

Example

A two-day spike to test whether the payment API supports partial refunds.

Exam tip

Use a spike when a story cannot be estimated due to unknowns.

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