Scoping a technical discovery spike for an offshore developer
How to make a discovery spike answer one engineering question without turning into an unreviewed prototype.
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Key takeaways
Write the question first.
Define evidence and a stop condition.
Keep the recommendation separate from build work.
State the unknown
A spike should name the technical question, the decision it informs, and the constraints that matter. “Investigate the integration” is too broad to review.
Choose an experiment that can disprove the preferred option. That protects the buyer team from receiving confirmation disguised as discovery.
Bound the experiment
Use synthetic data, a narrow interface, and a written stop condition. The developer can test feasibility without creating a production-shaped path that nobody owns.
Record assumptions about latency, failure, security, and maintenance before interpreting the result.
Deliver a recommendation
Close with evidence, alternatives considered, limitations, and a proposed next slice. The engineering manager decides whether the result merits implementation.
Archive the experiment or label it clearly so future contributors do not mistake it for supported code.
