“Scrum’s empirical process control” — the claim that Scrum is based on process control is nonsense. Process control feedback algorithms apply to linear systems, and a human system certainly is not linear.

The truth is the Scrum is just a process some guy cooked up, and he applied the “process control” metaphor afterwards in order to sell it.

I agree with the author about misuse of velocity. Velocity is really a useless metric overall. I prefer Lean metrics such as lead time — they tell you a-lot more, and are stronger motivators for the behavior that we want.

It is also curious to me that velocity does not apply to those outside the team — but who surely affect the team — such as business analysts, POs, etc. Why not? But end-to-end lead time includes everyone.