Empiricism | Glossary

Definition

Empiricism is work that is fact, experience and evidence based. It is usually implemented in a Scrum process where progress is based on observations of reality, and not fictitious plans. It also places a large emphasis on the mindset and shifts in culture to achieve business and organizational agility.

The three pillars of Empiricism in Scrum are : Transparency, Inspection and Adaptation. They result in faster time to market, more predictable delivery, increased customer responsiveness and managing priorities. Alongside improved capabilities of risk management.

Further Reading

  • “Agile Project Management”(book), by Jim Highsmith.

 

Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) | Glossary

Definition

“Keep It Simple Stupid” or its acronym KISS is a design principle first noted by the US Navy in the 1960’s. The emphasis is on stating that a large variety of systems tend to work best when the procedure is kept simple, rather than overly complicated. A simplicity in design will greatly benefit in the product being more relatable and accessible for the end users.

It is a usability principle for Product Design that has two other variants : “Keep it short and simple” and “Keep it simple and straightforward” , in the cases of when the word ‘stupid’ is deemed highly sensitive and troubling to some. The central message/objective remains the same: To deliver the simplest possible outcome.

Further Reading

  •  “Moderating Usability Tests: Principles and Practice for Interacting” (book), by Beth A. Loring and Joseph S. Dumas.