The 3 Stages of Shu Ha Ri for Gaining Knowledge

What is Shu Ha Ri?

Every journey from novice to master follows a natural progression. Whether you’re learning a new skill, adopting a methodology, or developing as a leader, understanding the stages of learning can help you navigate your development pathway more effectively.

In Shu-Ha-Ri, there are 3 stages to gaining knowledge. Alistair Cockburn popularized these stages in the Agile community by introducing them via an analogy to Aikido from the Japanese martial arts. As we navigate our development journey, we learn a particular technique or skill and get better at it from beginner/novice to journeyman, to master. We also progress from following rules to creating our own rules/approach.

The Three Stages of Mastery

There are 3 stages of gaining knowledge:

Shu – Beginner Stage

In shu, we repeat the forms and discipline ourselves so that our bodies absorb the forms that our forebears created. We remain faithful to these forms with no deviation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuhari

At the Shu stage, we focus on following the teachings of experts exactly as prescribed. This is a time to:

• Follow instructions and rules precisely
• Focus on one approach rather than exploring alternatives
• Build fundamental skills through repetition
• Develop discipline through structured practice
• Accept guidance without questioning the underlying theories

As in Aikido, here we follow the teachings, instructions, or rules as laid out without worrying about the why or the theory behind certain things. There is a preference for one option as many options for doing the same thing will create confusion.

This stage is characterized by a high degree of external direction. As beginners, we don’t yet have the context or experience to evaluate different approaches or understand why certain methods work better than others. Trying to innovate too early often leads to poor foundational skills and misconceptions.

Ha – The Journeyman Stage

In ha, once we have disciplined ourselves to acquire the forms and movements, we make innovations. In this process, the forms may be broken and discarded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuhari

The Ha stage represents our growth beyond basic competence into deeper understanding. At this stage, we:

• Understand the theories and principles behind the practices
• Begin to break away from rigid forms
• Explore variations and alternatives
• Question assumptions and adapt techniques
• Integrate knowledge from multiple sources

In Ha, we are beyond the basics and now understand the theory behind why we do certain things. We can evaluate different alternatives and decide on which one to take. We start to see patterns and connections that weren’t visible to us as beginners. We no longer simply follow rules, we understand why the rules exist and when they might need to be adapted or combined in new ways.

Ri – The Master Stage

In ri, we completely depart from the forms, open the door to creative technique, and arrive in a place where we act in accordance with what our heart/mind desires, unhindered while not overstepping laws.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuhari

The Ri stage represents true mastery, where:

• Innovation becomes natural and intuitive
• Principles are internalized to the point of unconscious competence
• New approaches emerge from deep experiential knowledge
• Learning comes primarily from direct experience
• The master may create entirely new systems or methods

In Ri, we are going beyond learning from others, but learning from our own experience and adapting the rules for different circumstances, and creating our own approaches. At this advanced stage, the rules that once served as a foundation have been so thoroughly internalized that they no longer require conscious attention. We work from first principles and deep intuition, often breaking conventional rules to achieve better results.

An Example of Real-World Application of Shu Ha Ri

For example, when I presented my talk on Fostering Self-Organizing Teams at the Munich Global Scrum Gathering, it was my first trip to Munich. If I needed to go from point A to point B, I’m in a new setting and I’m at the Shu stage. I need directions to follow a map or preferably a guide that can lead and show me the way. If you give me more than 1 set of directions, that’s too much information.

After being in Munich for a couple of days, I got the general lay of the land and could wander on my own and know where to turn right or left or pick an alternative between 2 routes. That’s the Ha stage.

Back home in DC, my commute to work is just common nature. I do it without even thinking about it. I get in the car and drive and 25 minutes later I’m at work. If there is traffic, I discover alternate routes or shortcuts on my own that put me right back on track. This is the Ri stage.

How Shu Ha Ri Applies to Team Development

The Shu Ha Ri concept has profound implications for how we develop teams and organizations:

Team Learning Stages

Teams, like individuals, progress through similar stages of development:

• Shu Teams need clear processes, defined roles, and explicit guidance
• Ha Teams can experiment with process adaptations and take more ownership
• Ri Teams become truly self-organizing, creating their own approaches to achieve outcomes

Common Mistakes in Applying Shu Ha Ri

Understanding these development stages helps avoid common pitfalls:

1. Expecting Ri-level performance from Shu-level teams or individuals
2. Providing rigid direction to Ri-level masters who need flexibility
3. Moving through the stages too quickly without building proper foundations
4. Treating everyone on a team as being at the same stage rather than recognizing individual differences

In our Building High-Performing Teams Workshop, we explore how these learning stages apply to individual and team dynamics. Participants learn to identify development stages in themselves and team members, and create appropriate conditions for growth at each stage.

Now let’s look at another model for individual development, the Dreyfus Model of Skills Acquisition.

Further Reading:

Also check out the complete Fostering Self-organizing Teams series:

• What is a Self-Organizing Team?
• Scrum Magic! Do Scrum – Become Hype-productive!
• 3 Models for Skills Acquisition
• The 3 Stages of Shu Ha Ri for Gaining Knowledge
• The Dreyfus Model of Skills Acquisition
• Situational Leadership
• The 5 Stages of Tuckman’s Group Model
• Drexler/Sibbet Team Performance Model
• The ScrumMaster’s Role in Fostering a High Performing Self-Organizing Team
• 7 Attributes of a Self-Organizing Team
• Delegation Board for Fostering a Self-Organizing Team
• The ScrumMaster’s Progressive Delegation Responsibility
• Fostering Self-Organizing Teams Presentation