A Proof of Concept (POC) is a demonstration, the purpose of which is to verify that certain concepts or theories have the potential for real-world application. POC is a prototype that is designed to determine feasibility, but does not represent deliverables.

Here are some key points regarding a Proof of Concept:

  1. Validation:
    • POC aims to validate that a concept or theory can be developed and will work as expected in a real-world scenario.
    • It provides the opportunity to evaluate whether a proposed solution will function in the specified environment.
  2. Feasibility:
    • The primary goal is to check the feasibility of the proposed solution at an early stage before investing more time, effort, and resources into development.
  3. Low Fidelity:
    • POCs are typically low-fidelity, meaning they are simple and not fully formed, but should be functional enough to test the idea.
  4. Cost-effective:
    • Conducting a POC is a cost-effective way to avoid potential mistakes and to ensure that the proposed solution will meet the objectives.
  5. Demonstration:
    • POC serves as a demonstration to stakeholders, which can be used to show how the proposed solution could work.
    • It helps in getting stakeholder buy-in by showing the potential of the proposed solution.
  6. Learning:
    • It provides valuable insights and knowledge which can be used to fine-tune the solution and better plan for the full development phase.
  7. Risks Identification:
    • Helps in identifying potential risks and challenges that might be encountered during the development phase.
  8. Short-term:
    • POCs are generally short-term exercises, done to gather feedback and insights.
  9. Benchmarking:
    • Establishes a benchmark against which the actual solution can be measured.
  10. Transition to Prototype:
    • If successful, a POC can often be a precursor to a prototype, moving from a basic validation of an idea to a more detailed and refined solution.
  11. Documentation:
    • Detailed documentation is crucial for a POC to record what has been learned and to provide a solid foundation for moving forward.

In business and IT, a Proof of Concept often involves a small exercise to test a discrete design idea or assumption.