What is the purpose of Spikes?

• A. Drive out risk and uncertainty
• B. Accelerate feature delivery
• C. Improve test coverage
• D. Replace user stories

Answer: (A)

Spikes are time-boxed research efforts to answer questions that are uncertain or unknown, so the team can reduce risk and make informed decisions. By exploring options, technologies, or approaches, spikes provide the knowledge needed to plan and design confidently, estimate more accurately, and choose a feasible path forward. The outcome is typically a recommended solution approach, a small proof of concept, or clarified acceptance criteria that guide the next work. They aren’t intended to speed up feature delivery by themselves, nor to replace user stories, nor to directly improve test coverage.