Difference between revisions of "Tips & tricks"

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*Throw away everything from the retrospective except the retrospective actions. Focus on outcomes, not problems.
 
*Throw away everything from the retrospective except the retrospective actions. Focus on outcomes, not problems.
 
*Create awareness for [http://www.benlinders.com/2013/retrospective-benefits-power-to-the-team/ Retrospective Benefits]
 
*Create awareness for [http://www.benlinders.com/2013/retrospective-benefits-power-to-the-team/ Retrospective Benefits]
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'''Warmup Exercise - Sprint Draw & Guess'''
 
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A fun 10 minute warmup. I don't know the source of this, so am happy to be corrected.
 
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Ingredients:
 
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*X index cards per team member, where X is the total number of people within the dev team
 
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*Sharpies or pens
 
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*A pair of phones to use as countdown timers
 
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Method:
 
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*Give each person index cards and a sharpie/pen
 
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*Each person should write 1 to X in the top left corner of the index cards, front to back
 
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*If team size is even, each person has 1 minute to draw (without using words) how they felt the previous sprint went
 
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*If team size is odd, each person has 30 seconds to write down in words how they felt about the previous sprint
 
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*On completion, place the card at the back of the stack and pass it to the right
 
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*The next person, looking only at the last card at the back, attempts to interpret it
 
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**If they see a drawing, attempt to write down what it represents
 
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**If they see text, draw it
 
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*Facilitator should keep time - 1 min for drawing and 30 seconds for writing
 
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**Everyone should be doing the same thing
 
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*Keep going around until you write or draw on the last card
 
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*Once complete, lay them all out in order
 
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*Enjoy comparing the interpretations
 
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*Leave the index cards out during the rest of the retrospective, as a visual aid to whatever activity you have planned
 
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** Alternatively, if the activity planned requires index cards, just flip them over and reuse
 
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Sounds silly, but is rather great in lightening the mood.
 

Revision as of 01:17, 20 April 2015

Add any simple tips you have for improving retrospectives. Can be generated by running a Retrospective Surgery.

  • Split into small groups to narrow down actions (helps with large teams or with quiet members)
  • Use a space without a table
  • Have a backlog of retrospective actions with done / not done next to them
  • Write the output on a flip chart and stick it up in the workspace where all can see
  • Location, location, location - find a good spaces and mix it up so not always in same place
  • Write up the retrospective output including actions and put on a blog/wiki or send round in an email
  • Forward-specting - what can we start doing now
  • Do a 'warm up' exercise to break down any tension and get people in the mood (see below)
  • Food (especially nice food like cakes & biscuits) is an excellent way to make the session more appealing and is a great leveller.
  • Use a facilitator from outside the team (e.g. another team's scrum master)
  • Swap the facilitation role within the team: don't let it fall to the same person (coach, scrum master) each time
  • Plan your retrospectives - don't just turn up and run it the same way each time. Develop a toolbox with exercises.
  • Throw away everything from the retrospective except the retrospective actions. Focus on outcomes, not problems.
  • Create awareness for Retrospective Benefits
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