Retrospectives
Retrospectives are meetings held at the end of a development phase or sprint to discuss what went well, what could be improved, and how to incorporate learnings into future work.
Goal
To continuously improve team processes and efficiency by reflecting on past actions, celebrating successes, and identifying areas for improvement.
Context
You don't learn from experience. You learn from reflecting on experience. But it can be hard for people to identify what went well and what could be improved without a structured process. Retrospectives provide a safe space for team members to share their thoughts and feelings, leading to actionable insights and improvements.
Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Sprint Retrospectives | Focused on discussing the achievements and challenges of the most recent sprint. |
| Release Retrospectives | Aimed at reflecting on the process, quality, and outcomes of a product release. |
| Daily Retrospectives | Short, daily sessions to reflect on the day's work and identify immediate improvements. |
Inputs
| Artifact | Description |
|---|---|
| Process Vision | A clear, concise statement of the desired state of the development process and the principles that guide it. |
| Team Feedback | Contributions from team members about their experiences, observations, and suggestions for improvement. |
Outputs
| Artifact | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Improvement Opportunities | Suggestions for enhancing processes, tools, or practices to improve team performance and efficiency. | Directly translates insights into actionable steps for team development and process enhancement. |
Anti-patterns
- Skipping Retrospectives: Skipping retrospectives due to time constraints or perceived lack of issues, missing opportunities for improvement.
- Negative Focus: Allowing negative feedback to dominate without focusing on constructive solutions or celebrating successes.
- Inaction: Failing to act on the outcomes of retrospectives, leading to repeated issues and team frustration.