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Foundations

Empiricism

Official Concept

Empiricism means making decisions based on observation, experience, and evidence.

Plain English explanation

Empiricism is the foundation of Scrum. It means learning from what actually happens instead of relying only on assumptions or predictions.

What it means

Instead of trying to predict everything upfront, Scrum teams observe real results and adjust. This is called learning by doing.

Why it matters

Complex work is unpredictable. Empiricism helps teams reduce uncertainty by making decisions based on real outcomes.

How it works

Empiricism works through three pillars: transparency, inspection, and adaptation.

Key idea

Scrum is built on learning from reality, not guessing the future.

Key points

  • Learn from real results
  • Reduce reliance on predictions
  • Continuously improve decisions
  • Driven by transparency, inspection, and adaptation

Source

Based on Scrum Guide 2020.

Visit official Scrum Guide