{"id":11842,"date":"2023-09-13T01:20:55","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T01:20:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/?p=11842"},"modified":"2023-10-30T17:03:44","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T17:03:44","slug":"agile-spike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/agile-spike\/","title":{"rendered":"Let\u2019s talk about agile spikes \u2013 what they are and how you can use them to make better project decisions."},"content":{"rendered":"

Before agile methodology, most teams took a pretty linear approach to project management. Gather resources. Design. Build. Test. Deliver. However, one major problem with traditional project management is that without regular iterations, the final product is built without user feedback.<\/p>\n

In agile methodology<\/a>, a user story sets out to solve this. But what happens when the approach to the user story isn\u2019t immediately clear? That\u2019s where an agile spike comes in.<\/p>\n

Are you considering using agile project management for your next project? Today, we\u2019re getting into user stories and agile spikes so you can understand how they\u2019re a vital part of integrating customer feedback into your development process.<\/p>\n

\"Agile<\/p>\n

<\/span>But first\u2026 what is Agile Project Management?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The agile methodology is used by startups and smaller companies who need to remain agile in their work. Agile project management is about breaking project life cycles into smaller iterations or sprints. It\u2019s most commonly used during software development, but many other types of businesses use this model for their projects.<\/p>\n

At the core, agile project management is about collaboration. Scrum Masters oversee the project and make sure the team follows agile principles. Additionally, they break the project into sprints and develop processes on an ongoing basis.<\/p>\n

Agile project management incorporates regular feedback, testing, and response to changes. It helps teams stay agile and adapt easily as they embark on the next sprint.<\/p>\n

For a more detailed overview, you can check out our Beginners\u2019 Guide to Agile Project Management<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span>Understanding User Stories and Agile Spikes<\/span><\/h2>\n

A key component of agile project management is ongoing customer feedback. That feedback is to guide the next steps in the project. The key terms here are user story and agile spike.<\/p>\n

What is a user story?<\/strong> A user story is a small unit of work in an agile workflow created through user feedback.<\/p>\n

What is an agile spike?<\/strong> Sometimes, there\u2019s no clear fix for a user story, making it impossible to estimate how much effort or time would go into building it out. A \u201cspike story\u201d in agile means the time the team takes to better understand the story or break it into tasks. Sometimes called \u201ctimeboxed investigations,\u201d you can think of an agile spike story as a user story that requires more information.<\/p>\n

The key to a spike story in agile is that it intends to address one specific question. And the outcome of a spike is not to answer that question, but to better break down the features into stories and estimate how long they will take.<\/p>\n

The agile team can then use that information to get smarter about what features they should be developing over the course of the project.<\/p>\n

You should use them sparingly as they aren\u2019t directly delivering user value and can distract from the core project if they\u2019re not selected strategically.<\/p>\n

Some key benefits of agile spikes are that they bring clarity when a team is uncertain on a particular solution. Rather than overestimating the impact or time a task will require, it allows the team time to explore the possibilities and gather necessary information to make an informed decision.<\/p>\n

Why is it called an agile spike?<\/strong> Because, like a spike, it allows you to get a deeper understanding or clarity. It gives teams the information they need to navigate uncertainty and make better decisions.<\/p>\n

\"Agile<\/p>\n

<\/span>Agile Spike Stories: Types and When to Use Them<\/span><\/h2>\n

When should you use an agile spike story?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There are four main times when it makes sense to use an agile spike story.<\/p>\n