Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum Theory & PrinciplesEasy

During a Sprint Retrospective, the Scrum Team identifies that their Definition of Done is not strict enough, leading to quality issues being discovered in later Sprints by end-users. The Scrum Master facilitates a discussion where the team agrees to add new, more rigorous quality checks to their Definition of Done. This action is an example of which aspect of Empiricism?

  1. AAdaptation
  2. BPrediction
  3. CTransparency
  4. DInspection
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A. Adaptation

The team identified a problem (quality issues due to a weak Definition of Done) and then made a change (added more rigorous quality checks). This act of changing based on what was learned is the essence of Adaptation within Empiricism.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. Prediction is about forecasting future outcomes, which is not directly related to changing a process based on past findings.
  • C. Transparency is about making the process visible, which enabled the discovery, but not the change itself.
  • D. Inspection is the act of examining the outcome (the quality issues) and the process (the DoD), which led to the insight, but not the change.

Empiricism: Adaptation

Adaptation involves adjusting the process or product as soon as possible to minimize further deviation, based on the results of inspection.

  • Reacts to discovered deviations.
  • Minimizes future risks and waste.
  • Requires courage and commitment to change.

Memory trick: TIA: Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation

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