Proof of concept
A bounded investigation into whether an important assumption or technical approach is viable.
What is a proof of concept?
A proof of concept, or PoC, investigates a clearly bounded feasibility question. The assumption, scope of checks and criteria for a useful finding are defined first. Its result should enable a decision to continue, change the approach or abandon it. An impressive demonstration alone does not reliably answer that question.
In a fictional example, the plan is to check whether an existing interface supplies required item identifiers, quantities and units for a synthetic order. Expected values and missing information are explicitly examined. Even a positive finding would not show that the complete ordering process, user permissions or ongoing operation work. Those limits belong in the result. A PoC is therefore not automatically a saleable first product version.
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Related terms
- Minimum viable product (MVP)An MVP is a limited product or offer used to test a concrete assumption about customer behaviour.
- Pilot projectA limited deployment with selected participants to learn about use and operation before expansion.
- Product discoveryInvestigating needs, constraints and risky assumptions before settling on a product solution.
- Product OwnerThe person accountable in Scrum for product value, the Product Goal and effective backlog management.
- Definition of DoneThe shared description of the quality conditions a completed product Increment must meet.
- User storyA short description of a user role, a need and the goal behind it.
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