Timebox
A fixed maximum period allocated to an activity after which the team reviews stops or changes approach.
Plain English
Limit how long the team will spend before checking what it learned.
In context
Timeboxing protects focus and creates decision points for uncertain discovery discussion or implementation work.
Example
“Timebox the investigation to two hours then share evidence and next options.”
When you'll hear this
- spikes
- meetings
- product discovery
Common misunderstanding
A timebox limits time rather than guaranteeing the desired result will be completed within it.
Also known as
time boxtime-boxed
Commonly used by
Related terms
Updated: 2026-08-27
