Common Practice
Spike
Common Practice
Technique
A spike is a short research task used to reduce uncertainty.
Plain English explanation
A spike is a small investigation task to learn something before doing the real work.
Why it matters
It helps reduce uncertainty before committing to implementation.
How it works
The team sets a time-box and explores a problem, then shares findings.
Example
Researching a new API before building a feature.
Common myths
A spike is not a full solution — it is for learning only.
Key points
- Time-boxed research
- Reduces uncertainty
- Produces knowledge
- Not a deliverable feature
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Learning note
This is a common Agile/Scrum-related term or practice included to help learners understand language often used around Scrum.