Pivot
An intentional shift in direction to evaluate a new assumption about the product or strategy.
Key Points
- Deliberate change in course driven by evidence and learning.
- Centered on a clear, testable hypothesis with defined success metrics.
- Time-boxed experiment that limits scope and risk while gathering data.
- May adjust target users, features, or roadmap while keeping the product vision intact.
Example
After several sprints, a team sees low activation for a new feature. The product owner proposes targeting small retailers and integrating with a popular accounting app for two sprints to test whether this increases activation. The backlog and metrics are updated to run this pivot and measure outcomes.
PMP Example Question
During sprint review, the team finds that the key metric is flat despite multiple releases. The product owner suggests a time-boxed shift to focus on a different customer segment and measure activation. What is this approach called?
- Spike
- Pivot
- Backlog refinement
- Change control
Correct Answer: B — Pivot
Explanation: A pivot is a deliberate change in direction to test a new hypothesis about the product or strategy.
