{"id":3823,"date":"2024-08-01T16:00:20","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T14:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/?p=3823"},"modified":"2024-09-02T13:00:40","modified_gmt":"2024-09-02T11:00:40","slug":"agile-retrospective","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/agile-retrospective\/","title":{"rendered":"Agile Retrospective \u2013 Methods and Examples for Projects (with Downloads)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As a project management expert, you know that Lessons Learned meetings are an essential tool. Agile teams take this a step further. With the <strong>agile retrospective<\/strong>, you start thinking about the lessons learned and how to improve the collaboration even before the project is over \u2013 starting at the very beginning and continuing at regular intervals.<\/p>\n<p>Such agile retrospective meetings aid the continuous improvement of processes, methods, and teamwork.<\/p>\n<p>This article covers the following topics:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel1\">Agile retrospective: definition<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel2\">Who should participate in an agile retrospective?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel3\">Organization of an agile retrospective<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel4\">Which retrospective methods are there?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel5\">Retrospective examples for advanced practitioners<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel6\">Retrospective tools and templates for virtual teams<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel7\">What happens after the agile retrospective?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Kapitel8\">Conclusion \u2013 Agile retrospective<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Let us get started\u00a0with the definition of agile retrospective!<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel1\"><strong>Agile Retrospective: Definition<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Retrospectives in project management are regular team meetings with the aim of continuous improvement based on past experience. In various \u201creviews\u201d, team members evaluate together what went well and what did not. In addition, they analyze why things went well or did not meet expectations. Measures to improve processes, methods and teamwork are formulated and implemented.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The basic concept of a retrospective is anchored in the 12th principle of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/agile-project-management-methods\/#Kapitel2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">agile manifesto<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"modern-quote full\"><p>\u201cAt regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Agile teams work in preferably short intervals called iterations (aka \u201cSprints\u201d in <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Scrum_(software_development)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scrum<\/a>). These can be viewed as development cycles, but they also represent <strong>learning cycles<\/strong> because it is assumed that complex endeavors require a step-by-step approach in which it is necessary to frequently pause to evaluate oneself and the (intermediate) results. \u201cInspect &amp; adapt\u201d rituals are therefore a key ingredient of each iteration.<\/p>\n<p>This gives you the opportunity to significantly influence the further course of your project. Three factors are analyzed and, if necessary, adapted:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Product<\/li>\n<li>Process<\/li>\n<li>People<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The iteration review meetings or product review meetings with the stakeholders at the end of each iteration serve to evaluate and <strong>adapt the product<\/strong>. It also benefits the further development of its functionality, thanks to the stakeholder feedback.<\/p>\n<p>What remains are the aspects of <strong>processes<\/strong> and <strong>teamwork<\/strong> \u2013 which the agile retrospective meetings, aka agile sprint retrospectives, are designed to address. Retrospectives are held at the end of an iteration, just like the review.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7752\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7752\" style=\"width: 350px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/1_Iterative_process_improvement.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7752\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/1_Iterative_process_improvement.png\" alt=\"Agile retrospective - iterative, continuous process improvement\" width=\"350\" height=\"356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/1_Iterative_process_improvement.png 757w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/1_Iterative_process_improvement-295x300.png 295w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7752\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Agile sprint retrospectives promote the iterative, continuous improvement of the processes in the current project<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thus, the agile retrospective differs from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/lessons-learned-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lessons Learned<\/a> meetings used in traditional project management, especially with regard to the timing and frequency. With projects planned in the traditional manner, you generally have to sit down with the team once at the end of the project to discuss what happened and what has been learned. With agile teams, this happens on a regular basis after each iteration \u2013 before the next iteration begins. This enables you to immediately apply what you have learned to the current project, instead of merely gathering these findings to use on some future project.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel2\"><strong>Who Should Participate in an Agile Retrospective?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Stakeholders can be invited to attend a retrospective meeting, but their presence is normally not necessary. If the team wants to speak openly and honestly about the iteration that has just ended, having stakeholders present can be a hindrance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Agile coaches<\/strong> (a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scrum.org\/resources\/what-is-a-scrum-master\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scrum Master<\/a>\u201d in a Scrum Team) help the team identify good practices and possible improvements that can be used in the next iteration. An agile sprint retrospective is therefore a joint team event \u2013 and experienced coaches always have a sufficient repertoire of formats to support this effort.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Candor and honesty<\/strong> are therefore essential in a retrospective.<\/p>\n<p>Although the team might be quite satisfied with its accomplishments, with the team members congratulating themselves on a job well done, it is also important to be open about any critical issues and discuss these. This includes any feelings and emotions.<\/p>\n<p>Provide a <strong>safe space<\/strong> for dealing with these.<\/p>\n<p>At a minimum, the following people should participate:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/product-owner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Product Owner<\/a> (or also a functional project manager, depending on how the team is organized)<\/li>\n<li>All other team members<\/li>\n<li>A team coach<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel3\"><strong>Organization of an Agile Retrospective?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>An agile retrospective <strong>typically takes up to three hours<\/strong>, depending on the length of the iteration being reviewed.<\/p>\n<p>Experience has shown that a meeting with <strong>five phases<\/strong> is most effective:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Provide an atmosphere conducive to discussions<\/strong><br \/>\nThe team meets for the retrospective. The participants strive to avoid distractions and agree to participate in an open discussion in which each person is treated with respect.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gather the issues to be discussed<\/strong><br \/>\nTogether, the team members reflect on how the iteration went and brainstorm ideas for possible improvements.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gain insights<\/strong><br \/>\nAll the participants delve deeper into the issues that were discussed: what were the causes? What specific steps can be taken to improve things?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reach decisions<\/strong><br \/>\nAs per the agile principle that \u201cless is more\u201d, the group agrees on 1-2 specific improvement measures to be implemented in the next iteration.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><br \/>\nAfter reaching an agreement in phase 4, the retrospective is concluded, and the team members go their separate ways again. The next iteration can now begin.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n    <p class=\"datamintsbanner\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/en\/project-management-newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"datamintsbanner__link\" title=\"Project Management Newsletter TPG PMO Resource Management Agile PM Project Projects Projectmanager Projectmanagementoffice\" style=\"display: block;\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/08\/TPG_Banner-Blog_1400_Newsletter_EN.jpg\" class=\"datamintsbanner__image\" style=\"display: block; max-width: 100%\">\n        <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n    \n<h2 id=\"Kapitel4\"><strong>What Retrospective Methods Are There?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Generally speaking, no special <strong>retrospective methods<\/strong> are necessary for holding an agile retrospective, with its individual phases, for your team. It is also not necessary to strictly follow each of the individual steps listed here, although the meeting generally quickly progresses from one step to another. The important thing is to end the meeting with an agreement on 1-2 specific improvements for the next iteration.<\/p>\n<p>Experience has shown that the team often <strong>runs out of agile retrospective ideas and loses creativity<\/strong> after a few retrospectives. There is then an urge to abolish these retrospective meetings. Or the project team still has no idea how to ensure that the retrospective meetings are productive and creative.<\/p>\n<p>For these situations, there is a wealth of retrospective methods and moderation techniques for engaging your team and <strong>making it easier and much more exciting for the team to work on improvement processes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our tip:<\/strong> A website with a trove of good agile retrospective ideas is <a href=\"https:\/\/retromat.org\/en\/?id=132\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Retromat<\/a>: it provides formats for every phase of the retrospective. In the next section, we present a selection of these.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Please note: Teams generally enjoy trying these various techniques, but they can also be a bit overwhelming or exhausting. So, keep in mind that: <strong>less is more.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Experienced team coaches use <strong>1-2 methods per agile retrospective<\/strong>. They repeat some methods occasionally to avoid asking too much of the team. They sometimes completely omit one or the other a few times in between.<\/p>\n<p>Choose the methods best suited to your team\u2019s level of development or experience. The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/retromat.org\/en\/?id=49\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">starfish<\/a>\u201d is a classic format that is easy to use and understand and even works remotely if you use an electronic whiteboard.<\/p>\n<p>For a format such as \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/retromat.org\/en\/?id=75\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Writing The Unspeakable<\/a>\u201d, on the other hand, you need a team that can meet undisturbed in a separate room and has members that know and trust each other well.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our tip:<\/strong> Gently introduce your team to the latest retrospective techniques. Choose a rather simple method. Over time, you can progress to more demanding techniques.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Do many of the issues discussed deal with the environment in which your team works? If so, it makes sense to involve the stakeholders as well at some point.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>You might also enjoy reading our blog article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/agile-contract-models\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">agile contract models.<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><strong>1) Retrospective Method for Warm-Up (<\/strong><strong>Icebreaker)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>ESVP:<\/strong>\u00a0Each team member is asked, in turn, which of these they feel like in today\u2019s retrospective meeting:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Explorer (eager and enthusiastic)<\/li>\n<li>Shopper (looks to see if any insights can be gained)<\/li>\n<li>Vacationer (enjoys the time off from other duties)<\/li>\n<li>Prisoner (would rather be somewhere else)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Each person writes the first letter of their choice on a piece of paper, and the papers are collected anonymously. If any of the papers show a V or a P, this is discussed. Why does someone feel like a \u201cvacationer\u201d or a \u201cprisoner\u201d in this meeting? What needs to change to improve the team\u2019s attitude toward the retrospective?<\/p>\n<h3><strong>2) Retrospective Method for Making a List of Issues<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Sailboat \/ Motor yacht:<\/strong> Together, the retrospective participants view a picture of a boat on a flipchart or something similar and then, after writing the issues important to them on sticky notes, paste these sticky notes on the area of the picture they feel best represents their issue. Is the issue related to something that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Motivates us as a team (boat engine or sail)?<\/li>\n<li>Could present a future hazard (iceberg)?<\/li>\n<li>Is slowing the team down (anchor)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7753\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7753\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/2_Sailboat.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7753\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/2_Sailboat.png\" alt=\"Agile retrospectives - the sailboat\" width=\"600\" height=\"359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/2_Sailboat.png 1417w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/2_Sailboat-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/2_Sailboat-1024x612.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7753\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Often used by teams to collect information during a retrospective: The sailboat (downloadable template available below figure)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our download tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Here is the template for holding a remote retrospective using the <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/presentation\/d\/1ml1F7CpuMJWX6JEw0jOVFfTHoW8Et3V9PKcxCkoVX1o\/edit#slide=id.p1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sailboat exercise<\/a>. You can copy and use it for retrospectives with your team.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><strong>3) Retrospective Method for Gaining Insights<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>5 Whys:\u00a0<\/strong>Originally developed by former Toyota CEO Taichii Ohno. Just as a child would do, we ask the question Why? five times. Let us look at an example.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Problem: We missed the delivery deadline for our new product version.<\/strong><\/p>\n<dl class=\"sc-accordions\"><dt class=\"sc-accordion-title\"><a href=\"#\">Why did we miss the deadline?<\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"sc-accordion-pane\">Because not everyone finished their tasks on time.<\/dd>\n<dt class=\"sc-accordion-title\"><a href=\"#\">Why was not everyone finished on time?<\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"sc-accordion-pane\">Because there were a lot of urgent support requests to deal with at the same time.<\/dd>\n<dt class=\"sc-accordion-title\"><a href=\"#\">Why were there numerous urgent support requests needing our attention?<\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"sc-accordion-pane\">Because an important hardware update that was planned at the same time led to some bugs.<br \/>\n<\/dd>\n<dt class=\"sc-accordion-title\"><a href=\"#\">Why was an important hardware update planned for the exact same time?<\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"sc-accordion-pane\">Because the priorities for the team were not clearly set and planned.<br \/>\n<\/dd>\n<dt class=\"sc-accordion-title\"><a href=\"#\">Why were the team\u2019s priorities not clearly defined and scheduled?<\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"sc-accordion-pane\">Because the stakeholders disagreed which was more important.<br \/>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<p><strong>What caused the problem? Conflicting priorities among the stakeholders; the priorities were not coordinated well.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Taiichi Ohno believed <strong>the source of the problem would be pretty clear after the fifth \u201cWhy?\u201d question<\/strong>. After doing this exercise, you can discuss the result and brainstorm ideas for avoiding this problem in the future. For example, it might be helpful to escalate the problem to the next higher level or help stakeholders reach an agreement.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>4) Retrospective Method for Reaching an Agreement:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Using colored dots to vote:<\/strong>\u00a0Present the measures suggested in the retrospective phases and then ask participants to vote on these using the colored dots they have been given. Each person is given two or three colored dots to allocate as they see fit to indicate the measures they deem most important. They can give all their dots to a single measure or distribute them among several measures. The measure with the most dots is implemented in the next iteration.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>5) Retrospective Method for Concluding the Meeting<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Respect and appreciation:\u00a0<\/strong>Each team member is asked to personally thank or praise another participant for something specific that that person contributed to the project. It can be for the help they gave or their strong commitment. After everyone has contributed, the retrospective can be concluded.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel5\"><strong>Retrospective Examples for Advanced Practitioners<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Is your team a group of experienced professionals already very familiar with retrospectives? If so, here are a few retrospective examples of methods you may not have used before:<\/p>\n<h3>Retrospective Example 1: Futurespectives<\/h3>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.funretrospectives.com\/category\/futurespective\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">futurespective<\/a>, as the name suggests, you look ahead to the future instead of back to the past. This is especially useful at the project\u2019s start when the goals and objectives are being defined and the risks are being identified. Possible formats that have proven successful are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Remember The Future <\/strong>\u2013 The team (possibly together with stakeholders and maybe a customer) is asked the agile retrospective question: \u201cAssuming that the project just ended and was a complete success, what made it a success?\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pre-Mortem <\/strong>\u2013 Turning this agile retrospective question around to identify scenarios that you would want to avoid, ask the participants: \u201cAssuming that the project just ended and was a complete failure, why exactly was it a failure? What caused the failure?\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hopes &amp; Concerns <\/strong>\u2013 Everyone is given the chance to express their hopes and concerns regarding the project just starting, and these are then discussed with the other participants.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6024\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6024\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/4_Hopes-and-concerns.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/4_Hopes-and-concerns.jpg\" alt=\"Agile retrospective methods \u2013 Hopes and Concerns\" width=\"600\" height=\"370\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/4_Hopes-and-concerns.jpg 1130w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/4_Hopes-and-concerns-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/4_Hopes-and-concerns-1024x631.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6024\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u201cHopes &amp; Concerns\u201d \u2013 virtually presented as part of a certification seminar (the results have been anonymized.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Another interesting read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/agile-project-management-certifications\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Agile Project Management Certifications<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It is also enlightening to repeat an exercise such as this at the project\u2019s halfway point to see what has changed since the project began.<\/p>\n<h3>Retrospective Example 2: Liberating Structures<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.liberatingstructures.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Liberating Structures<\/a> was originally developed to act as a counterpoint to monotonous presentations \u2012 \u201cDeath by PowerPoint\u201d (too many slides with too much content) \u2012 and endless meetings in which everyone just sits there waiting for them to end. It is a collection of formats designed to extract innovative ideas from the group by using the swarm intelligence of the group\u2019s participants. This technique is useful in other areas as well, but it works especially well in retrospectives.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Tip for beginners:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.liberatingstructures.com\/1-1-2-4-all\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1-2-4-all<\/a>: A topic is presented (to encourage more fun and creativity, the question can be formulated in a negative way. For example: \u201cWhat is the best way to hamper our company\u2019s agility?\u201d).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>The team has 1 minute in which each participant writes as many ideas as possible on a piece of paper.<\/li>\n<li>Next, each participant selects a partner in the room. For the next 2 minutes, each pair discusses their ideas and creates a new, consolidated list.<\/li>\n<li>Afterward, each pair gets together with another pair. Each group of two pairs now has 4 minutes to discuss the ideas on their lists and create a new, consolidated list.<\/li>\n<li>In the final step, each group of four has 5 minutes to discuss and select the one idea that they find most important or concise to present it to the entire group later. Each group can write the idea on large index cards or a flipchart and then explain their idea to the entire group. Although the assignment was framed as a negative question, the ideas generated can then be reformulated as positive ideas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"id69573c2360f48\" class=\"iframecontainer iframecontainer--hidden\">\n            <div class=\"iframecontainer__head\" style=\"background: #D60B52!important;\">\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__head__inner\" style=\"color:#ffffff;\" data-for=\"#id69573c2360f48\">\n                    <p><strong>PDF Download: <\/strong> Comparing PM Methodologies: Agile, Traditional, and Hybrid<\/p>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__head__icon\" data-for=\"#id69573c2360f48\">\n                    <svg width=\"10px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"1092 550 10 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\n                        <polygon class=\"iframecontainer__head__icon__pfeil\"  data-for=\"#id69573c2360f48\" stroke=\"none\" fill=\"#ffffff\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" points=\"1093.875 550 1101.875 558 1093.875 566 1092 564.125 1098.125 558 1092 551.875\"><\/polygon>\n                    <\/svg>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"iframecontainer__iframe\">\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__iframe__inner\">\n                    <p>This downloadable article about project management methodologies outlines the differences between agile, traditional and hybrid and will help you to choose the right method for your project.<\/p>\n<p>Please fill in the form.<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Required Fields\u00a0 |\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/en\/data-protection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Data Protection<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"cookieconsent-optout-marketing\">This form is blocked by your cookie settings to our website. Please <a>click here<\/a> and select at least the marketing cookies. Then this form will be visible. Thanks a lot.<\/div>\n\n                \t<!-- ENGLISCH Wichtig: nur den Code in download-asset \u00e4ndern - definiert Download -->\r\n<script type='text\/x-ccm-loader' data-ccm-loader-src=\"https:\/\/js-eu1.hsforms.net\/forms\/embed\/developer\/146642994.js\" defer><\/script>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hs-form-html\"\r\n     data-download-asset=\"CU5E\"\r\n     data-region=\"eu1\"\r\n     data-form-id=\"ed0008c7-47d5-4c2e-ad2f-000bd95b74c5\"\r\n     data-portal-id=\"146642994\"><\/div>\r\n\r\n<script>\r\n(() => {\r\n  const FORM_ID = 'ed0008c7-47d5-4c2e-ad2f-000bd95b74c5';\r\n  const FIELD   = '0-1\/download_asset';\r\n  const roots   = new Set();\r\n  const formsByRoot = new WeakMap();\r\n\r\n  const setViaApi = (root) => {\r\n    const code = root.dataset.downloadAsset || '';\r\n    const form = formsByRoot.get(root);\r\n    if (!code || !form) return;\r\n    form.setFieldValue(FIELD, code);\r\n  };\r\n\r\n  window.addEventListener('hs-form-event:on-ready', (event) => {\r\n    if (!window.HubSpotFormsV4) return;\r\n    const form = HubSpotFormsV4.getFormFromEvent(event);\r\n    if (!form || form.getFormId() !== FORM_ID) return;\r\n\r\n    const root = [...roots].find(r => r.contains(event.target));\r\n    if (!root) return;\r\n\r\n    formsByRoot.set(root, form);\r\n    setViaApi(root);\r\n  });\r\n\r\n  window.addEventListener('message', (event) => {\r\n    const d = event.data;\r\n    if (!d || d.type !== 'hsFormCallback' || d.eventName !== 'onFormSubmit') return;\r\n    if (d.id !== FORM_ID) return;\r\n\r\n    roots.forEach(setViaApi);\r\n  });\r\n\r\n  document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {\r\n    document.querySelectorAll('.hs-form-html[data-download-asset][data-form-id=\"' + FORM_ID + '\"]')\r\n      .forEach(r => roots.add(r));\r\n  });\r\n})();\r\n<\/script>\n                    <style>\/* Kompaktere Darstellung f\u00fcr HubSpot Formulare *\/\n[data-hsfc-id=\"Renderer\"] .hsfc-Step .hsfc-Step__Content { padding: 0 20px 20px !important; }\n[data-hsfc-id=Renderer] .hsfc-TextField>*:not(:last-child) { margin-bottom:4px !important; }\n[data-hsfc-id=\"Renderer\"] .hsfc-Row { gap: 20px !important; margin-bottom: 12px !important; }\n[data-hsfc-id=\"Renderer\"] .hsfc-NavigationRow { margin-top: 6px !important; }\n[data-hsfc-id=\"Renderer\"] .hsfc-TextInput { padding: 8px !important; }<\/style>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div><h3>Retrospective Example 3: Agile Games<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tastycupcakes.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Agile games<\/a> are not only helpful for teaching agile methods in introductory workshops, but the gamification principle has also shown that formats using games and \/ or competition are more effective than discussions or presentations. They lead to a better long-term understanding of what has been learned. Familiar simulations such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teamworkblog.de\/2019\/07\/the-ubongo-flow-game-instruction-and.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ubongo Flow Game,<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lego4scrum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lego4Scrum<\/a>, and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fearlessjourney.info\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fearless Journey<\/a> awaken participants\u2019 playful instincts and function as direct, and often tactile, learning experiences.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tip for beginners:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tastycupcakes.org\/2009\/09\/sizing-game\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">White Elephant Sizing<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The group estimates the work using T-shirt sizes as a reference. This gives the participants a feel for estimating the relative scope in agile projects.<\/li>\n<li>In a retrospective, you could ask the participants to start by estimating the amount of work involved in ordinary home activities (such as vacuum cleaning, decluttering a closet, renovating a kitchen, or cooking a meal) and then discuss within the team how each person arrived at these estimates.<\/li>\n<li>The insights gained can be used in the next iteration when it is time to estimate the effort involved in fulfilling \u201creal\u201d requirements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6025\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6025\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/5_White-elephant.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6025\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/5_White-elephant.png\" alt=\"Retrospectives \u2013 \u201cWhite Elephant Sizing\u201d virtual version\" width=\"600\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/5_White-elephant.png 959w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/5_White-elephant-300x166.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6025\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u201cWhite Elephant Sizing\u201d, virtual version (retrospective in agile project management)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel6\"><strong>Retrospective Tools and Templates for Virtual Teams<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Some of the formats discussed above are intended for groups meeting in-person in a room. Project teams are <strong>increasingly global though and collaborating remotely<\/strong>. However, that does not preclude the use of innovative retrospective formats.<\/p>\n<p>In the agile retrospective, it helps to not only have a good videoconferencing tool (ideally with the <strong>webcams turned on<\/strong> so that everyone can see each other), but also the following tools:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>The website \u201cFun Retrospectives\u201d has developed its own\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/app.funretrospectives.com\/agendas\/-MBZWGPCxtb_o3B_5DQN#mainCourse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">remote tool<\/a> for the Starfish format.<\/li>\n<li>Interactive virtual whiteboards, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/ideaboardz.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IdeaBoardz<\/a>, Miro, Mural, and Padlet, offer some templates for retrospectives. Team members can add their input to these boards in real time.<\/li>\n<li>If you provide everyone involved with a set of Google slides or a Word file, you can use these together with the team members simultaneously and in real time. Tables, sticky notes, etc. can also be used.<\/li>\n<li>For companies whose security policies prevent the use of the options mentioned above, you can simply create a presentation and share it directly from your screen. You can then add the team members\u2019 feedback directly to this presentation so that everyone sees it right away. Another option is to email the presentation to the participants beforehand, which allows everyone to reflect on it and jot down agile retrospective ideas before the meeting. The combined feedback can then be further discussed in the meeting.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> A possible retrospective template for items 3 and 4 is the sailboat graphic in the figure above (find the <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/presentation\/d\/1ml1F7CpuMJWX6JEw0jOVFfTHoW8Et3V9PKcxCkoVX1o\/edit#slide=id.p1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">download of the sailboat graphic<\/a> here).<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/miro.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Miro<\/a> software shown below provides another retrospective template.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3826\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3826\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3826\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/3.png\" alt=\"Template for team retrospectives in the \u201cMiro\u201d software program.\" width=\"500\" height=\"418\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/3.png 797w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/3-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/09\/3-768x642.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3826\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Retrospective template for team retrospectives in the \u201cMiro\u201d software program.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"Kapitel7\"><strong>What Happens After the Agile Retrospective?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Ideally, your team comes up with at least one concrete, immediately implementable idea in the retrospective. It is important that the team actually implements this measure and that their efforts are taken seriously by those around them so that the team feels that the retrospective was worthwhile and productive.<\/p>\n<p>You should therefore <strong>document improvement measures in the backlog<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Treat these with the same diligence as a functional or technical requirement in the next planning meeting: as something that must be planned and accomplished.<\/p>\n<p>Metrics you can use to track the success of the implementation are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Continuous measurement of the productivity and number of tasks being handled simultaneously (team velocity)<\/li>\n<li>Reaching the target number of product users (customer surveys)<\/li>\n<li>Team satisfaction<\/li>\n<li>Team\u2019s confidence in the quality of their product (employee surveys)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n    <p class=\"datamintsbanner\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3IFmguV\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"datamintsbanner__link\" title=\"Microsoft 365 Project Management TPG ProjectPowerPack: Best Practice Solution for Project & Portfolio Management Based on Microsoft 365 & Power Platform\" style=\"display: block;\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/05\/csm_PPP_Blog_Banner2_EN_1300px_tiny_8e50efa17d.jpg\" class=\"datamintsbanner__image\" style=\"display: block; max-width: 100%\">\n        <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n    \n<h2 id=\"Kapitel8\"><strong>Conclusion \u2013 Agile Retrospective<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In this article, you have read about:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Why you should not wait until the project is over to hold a Lessons Learned meeting, and how holding agile retrospective meetings regularly can contribute to possible process improvements.<\/li>\n<li>Ways to ensure that your retrospectives are creative and productive in the long-term, including retrospective methods well-suited to remote and \/ or experienced teams.<\/li>\n<li>How to identify specific measures for improvement, implement these, and track their success.<\/li>\n<li>The role of agile coaches and Scrum Masters in assisting teams.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Make the effort to tackle this topic and contribute to greater <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/project-success\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">project success<\/a> with regular agile retrospectives!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our final tips<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Get to know the individually adaptable \u201cPPM Paradise\u201d \u2013 the optimal environment for your enterprise-wide project, program, portfolio and resource management. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/data\/Downloads_eBooks\/TPG_PPM_Paradise_eBook_EN_-_TPG_TheProjectGroup.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download the eBook now<\/a> (just click, no form).<\/p>\n<p>And sign up for our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/en\/project-management-newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bi-weekly blog newsletter<\/a> to make sure you receive all our updates.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>What has been your experience with the retrospective in agile project management and possibly with specialized methods? We look forward to hearing from you!<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"id69573c236117d\" class=\"iframecontainer iframecontainer--hidden\">\n            <div class=\"iframecontainer__head\" style=\"background: #D60B52!important;\">\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__head__inner\" style=\"color:#ffffff;\" data-for=\"#id69573c236117d\">\n                    <p><strong>Subscribe to TPG BlogInfo:<\/strong> Never miss new practice-oriented tips &amp; tricks<\/p>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__head__icon\" data-for=\"#id69573c236117d\">\n                    <svg width=\"10px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"1092 550 10 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\n                        <polygon class=\"iframecontainer__head__icon__pfeil\"  data-for=\"#id69573c236117d\" stroke=\"none\" fill=\"#ffffff\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" points=\"1093.875 550 1101.875 558 1093.875 566 1092 564.125 1098.125 558 1092 551.875\"><\/polygon>\n                    <\/svg>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"iframecontainer__iframe\" style=\"height: 520px;\">\n                <div class=\"iframecontainer__iframe__inner\">\n                \t<p>Every other week: Receive practical tips in TPG blog posts written by recognized experts in project, portfolio, and resource management.<br \/>\n* Required Fields\u00a0 |\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/en\/data-protection\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Data Protection<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"cookieconsent-optout-marketing\">This form is blocked by your cookie settings to our website. Please <a>click here<\/a> and select at least the marketing cookies. Then this form will be visible. Thanks a lot.<\/div>\n\n                    <iframe src=\"https:\/\/scnem.com\/art_resource.php?sid=hqvs9.qdei48\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 520px;\"><\/iframe>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div><hr \/>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-3784 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/08\/Antje-058-Bearbeitet_quadrat_Web-1024x1024-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/08\/Antje-058-Bearbeitet_quadrat_Web-1024x1024-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/08\/Antje-058-Bearbeitet_quadrat_Web-1024x1024-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/08\/Antje-058-Bearbeitet_quadrat_Web-1024x1024-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/08\/Antje-058-Bearbeitet_quadrat_Web-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/span><strong>Author: Antje Lehmann-Benz\u00a0<em>(PMP, PMI-ACP, PSM expert \/ instructor in Agile Methodology)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Antje Lehmann-Benz, PMP, is a project management instructor with a special focus on agile issues and scrum seminars. She also has experience in providing software training (JIRA and Confluence) and consulting. In addition to instructing on frameworks and theory, she is also experienced in the use of agile games and practical exercises to reinforce the knowledge gained.<\/p>\n<p>Read more about Antje Lehmann-Benz on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/antje-lehmann-benz\/?locale=de_DE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn.<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n    <p class=\"datamintsbanner\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/4b3Fx51\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"datamintsbanner__link\" title=\"The comprehensive Resource Management Tool\" style=\"display: block;\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/Banner-TPG-CoReSuite-EN-6-2024.png\" class=\"datamintsbanner__image\" style=\"display: block; max-width: 100%\">\n        <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n    \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a project management expert, you know that Lessons Learned meetings are an essential tool. Agile teams take this a step further. With the agile retrospective, you start thinking about the lessons learned and how to improve the collaboration even before the project is over \u2013 starting at the very beginning and continuing at regular<\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/agile-retrospective\/\" title=\"Read More\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":7754,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3823"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3823"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7751,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3823\/revisions\/7751"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theprojectgroup.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}