Sustainability & Empiricism
Empiricism in agile product development
Empiricism is a core principle of agile methods.
It relies on transparency, inspection, and adaptation to deal with uncertainty and make informed decisions.
Instead of defining every outcome up front, teams learn continuously through small, validated steps.
This allows them to adjust course based on evidence — not assumptions.
Sustainability as a learning process
Sustainability is often seen as a strategic or long-term topic.
But sustainable product development also depends on short feedback loops, data-driven decisions, and the ability to adapt over time.
Ecological impact, energy consumption, or team well-being can’t be fully predicted.
They must be observed, measured, and improved — just like functionality or performance.
Shared principles
Agile and sustainable thinking share the same core principles:
- Transparency – Make sustainability-relevant aspects of product development visible
- Inspection – Observe environmental, social, and economic impact continuously
- Adaptation – Change direction based on what you learn, not just what was planned
Sustainability is not in conflict with agility.
It is a natural extension of the empirical mindset.
Implication for teams
Agile teams already inspect and adapt features, priorities, and processes.
With minimal effort, they can also inspect and adapt sustainability impact — if it is made transparent.
This guide provides practical ways to include sustainability in your existing feedback loops, without adding new processes or ceremonies.
Sustainability does not require new artifacts or methods.
It requires awareness, visibility, and the willingness to act on what you learn.