In Agile Scrum, an empirical process refers to a way of working that is based on experience, observation, and experimentation, rather than upfront planning and predictive processes. It relies on the idea that knowledge comes from experience and that decisions should be made based on what is known.
Scrum applies empirical process control through three main pillars:
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Transparency – Everyone involved must have a shared understanding of the process and work being done.
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Inspection – Scrum events like Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Retrospective allow frequent checks on progress and processes.
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Adaptation – When things deviate from acceptable limits, the process or work must be adjusted promptly.
This contrasts with a defined process, where everything is mapped out in advance. Scrum embraces change and unpredictability, making empirical process control ideal for complex, rapidly changing projects.
Example of Empirical process:
🟢 Transparency
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The Product Backlog is visible to the whole team.
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Everyone (developers, product owner, stakeholders) can see what features are planned, in progress, and completed.
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During Sprint Planning, the team discusses what they will deliver and why.
🔍 Inspection
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Every day, the team meets in the Daily Scrum to inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal.
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At the end of the Sprint, they hold a Sprint Review to inspect the product increment — maybe they demo a working step counter.
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The team also holds a Retrospective to inspect how the team worked together.
🔄 Adaptation
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After feedback in the Sprint Review, they learn users prefer integration with Apple Health over a custom dashboard. The team adapts the backlog and priorities for the next Sprint.
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During the Retrospective, they realize too many bugs came from rushed testing. They adapt by agreeing to write automated tests in the next Sprint.
🔁 The Value of Empirical Process
Rather than trying to predict every detail up front (which might fail in a fast-moving market), the team learns by doing, adjusts based on real user feedback, and continuously improves the product and process.
