In Agile project management, particularly Scrum, it is common to encounter situations where the team needs to conduct some research or spike to determine the best course of action for implementing a feature1. This is especially true when the team struggles to decide on the most efficient algorithm during sprint planning. Creating a new item in the sprint backlog allows the team to allocate time and resources specifically for this purpose, ensuring that the decision is made based on adequate information and development work2.
This approach aligns with the principles of iterative development and continuous improvement.
References:
* PMI. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOKGuide) - Sixth Edition.
* PMI. (2015). Bring certainty in agile sprint planning through estimation2.
* PMI. (2011). Agile project management with Scrum1.