“All our knowledge 1) begins with the senses, 2) proceeds then to the understanding, and 3) ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason.”

― Immanuel Kant

It is empiricism what makes a Scrum Team learn, instead of mindlessly following the events. I believe that understanding of what empiricism is is the key to understand how Scrum works in the first place. Empiricism indicates all our knowledge comes from experience. We experience the outside world by the data entering our mind to be processed. It’s because of our senses that the data are collected. What is the role of empiricism in Scrum?

Transparency in empiricism

Empiricism in Scrum involves three elements: transparency, inspection and adaptation. Empiricism starts with senses that gather empirical data for the mind to be processed, referred to in the scientific method as facts. A fact is an indisputable observation. Scrum artifacts are the source of facts upon which the Scrum Team acts. Transparency is the key here.

We know where we are

When the artifacts are transparent, we get the opportunity to inspect them. The Scrum Events serve this purpose. Depending on the event type, we inspect and adapt different artifacts as well as other things such as our Definition of Done, for example.

Empiricism and adaptation

Adaptation is just another name for change, adjustment. Given the facts the team has at a moment given, they make changes to the artifacts, themselves, their process, and so on in order to reach the Product Goal that isn’t set in stone itself.