Empiricism and the three pillars

2 questions test this

Scrum implements empirical process control, which means decisions are made from what has been observed rather than from a plan made in advance. Three pillars support it, and the framework's events exist to enact them.

Transparency

The process and the work must be visible to the people doing the work and to the people receiving it. Visibility alone is not enough. The parties need a shared standard for what they are seeing, which is why the Definition of Done matters here rather than only in delivery. Low transparency leads to decisions that lower value and increase risk.

Inspection

Scrum artifacts and progress toward agreed goals are inspected frequently and diligently, to detect variances or problems early. Inspection is not continuous supervision; it happens at the events, which is why each event has a fixed cadence. Inspection without transparency is misleading, because the thing being inspected does not reflect reality.

Adaptation

When inspection shows that something has deviated outside acceptable limits, the process or the material being worked on is adjusted, and the adjustment is made as soon as possible to minimise further deviation. Adaptation becomes more difficult when the people involved are not empowered or self-managing, which is where this domain connects to the next.

How the events enact them

Each of the four events inside the Sprint inspects one thing and adapts another. Reading the pairs together is the quickest way to see that the framework has no inspection without a corresponding adaptation.

| Event | Inspects | Adapts | | --- | --- | --- | | Sprint Planning | The Product Backlog | Produces the Sprint Goal and Sprint Backlog | | Daily Scrum | Progress toward the Sprint Goal | The Sprint Backlog | | Sprint Review | The Increment | The Product Backlog | | Sprint Retrospective | The last Sprint | How the team works |

Common misconceptions

“Inspection on its own is enough to keep a Sprint on track.”

Inspection without adaptation is considered pointless in Scrum. The Guide pairs them: when inspection shows a deviation, the process or the material being worked on must be adjusted.

“Transparency means publishing every detail of the work.”

Transparency means the emergent process and work are visible to those performing the work and those receiving it, using an agreed standard. A Definition of Done is one such standard.

“The five Scrum events are separate from the pillars.”

Each event is an opportunity for inspection and adaptation. The Sprint is the container; the other four exist to inspect and adapt an artifact and its commitment.

2 questions test this concept

Three Sprints into a new product, usage data shows that the feature the team has been building for six weeks is opened by four per cent of users. The Product Owner suggests carrying on because the work is nearly finished and stopping now would waste the effort so far. Which response is most consistent with empiricism?

AFinish the feature, because abandoning nearly complete work wastes the investment already made.
BAdapt the Product Backlog now on the basis of what has been observed, and treat the six weeks as already spent regardless of the decision.
CContinue for one more Sprint and decide at the Sprint Review after that.
DEscalate to the sponsor who requested the feature and follow their decision.

Check whether it stuck.

One per page, with a worked explanation.

Start the set

Related material

Book

Essential Scrum, On empirical process control and why short cycles work.