Scrum isn’t a finished product—it’s a starting point.
And what completes it? You and your team.
According to the Scrum Guide, “Scrum is built upon by the collective intelligence of the people using it.”
So… what does that really mean?
From Cambridge Dictionary:
Build (sth) on sth by: “To develop something that was started in the past or created by someone else.”
In Scrum? That second “something” is the Scrum framework, incomplete by design. That first “something” is the same Scrum framework, but evolving through use.
And how do we build on it? “By the collective intelligence of the people using it.”
That means you, your team, your Scrum Master, your Product Owner, your management. Together.
Collective: “of or shared by every member of a group of people”.
What does collective intelligence look like in action?
- Everyone contributes insights—not just the loudest voice
- Teams make decisions together, based on shared understanding
- Diverse opinions are welcomed, not feared
- Learning is visible, not hidden behind pride or process
- Continuous improvement is natural, not forced
Of course, many teams want this kind of collaboration… but run into real-world barriers.
While we search for true collaboration, we see big hurdles to take, such as
- Command-and-control environments
- Individuals hoarding knowledge
- Fear of conflict or being wrong
- Teams running Scrum by rote (“we do the ceremonies”) without meaningful conversation
How can we help our Scrum Teams tap into this collective intelligence?
Here are some practical ways:
- Frame every Scrum Event as a learning opportunity; an opportunity to inspect and adapt
- Run experiments; these can never be a failure, but are always learning opportunities
- Use open-ended questions and facilitation techniques to bring out quiet voices
- Regularly inspect not just the product, but how the team thinks and decides
- Scrum Masters, managers, Product Owners modelling curiosity, not control
- Challenge assumptions openly, respectfully
- Celebrate team-led experiments, not top-down initiatives.
Professional Scrum has never been about individual heroics.
It’s about the collective wisdom of a team, learning and evolving together.
So ask yourself:
- How often does your team pause to reflect not just on what they build—but on how they learn?
- What’s one thing you can do this Sprint to invite more collective intelligence into the way you work?
In the next post, we’ll zoom in on the second half of this phrase—what we mean by “intelligence”. Stay tuned!
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
I hope you find value in these short articles and if you are looking for more clarifications, feel free to make contact.
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Wishing you an inspiring read and a wonderful journey.
Scrum on!
