What is a Tech Spike in Agile

A tech spike in Agile refers to a type of exploratory user story or task that is used to research and solve technical uncertainties or challenges within a project. The goal of a spike is to investigate a specific issue, gather information, or test a potential solution that could impact development. Spikes are commonly used in Agile practices like Scrum or Kanban to reduce risk, clarify requirements, or decide between multiple technical approaches.

Types of Spikes in Agile

There are generally two types of spikes:

1. Technical Spike: Used to evaluate or experiment with new technologies, tools, or frameworks. For example, a team might need to investigate whether a new API integrates well with their system before committing to its use.
2. Functional Spike: Used to explore functionality, such as determining how a feature should behave or the best way to implement a user story.

When to Use a Tech Spike

A tech spike is typically used when:

• There is uncertainty about the technical feasibility of a solution.
• New technology or tools are being introduced.
• The team needs to investigate multiple solutions to a technical problem before choosing the best one.
• Unclear requirements make it difficult to estimate or proceed with development.

Example Scenario of a Tech Spike

Suppose an Agile team is tasked with integrating a new third-party payment gateway into their system. However, the team has never worked with this gateway before and is unsure if it supports the required security features. The team might create a tech spike to:

• Research the payment gateway’s documentation.
• Write a proof of concept to test its API.
• Assess whether it meets the necessary security and performance requirements.

The outcome of this tech spike will help the team decide how to proceed with the full integration.

How to Handle Tech Spikes in Agile

1. Define the Objective: Clearly state what problem the spike is solving or what questions need to be answered.
2. Timebox the Spike: Spikes should be limited in time (usually 1–2 days) to ensure the team doesn’t spend excessive time on research without clear results.
3. Document Findings: At the end of the spike, document the results, including any conclusions or decisions. This information will help guide the next steps in development.
4. Incorporate into Backlog: Once the spike has been completed, the information gathered can be used to better estimate and refine the user story or task.

Conclusion

A tech spike is an important tool in Agile for addressing uncertainty and ensuring the team can move forward confidently with the development process. By allowing for focused research, spikes help avoid potential issues and enable more accurate sprint planning.