The sprint retrospective is one of the five scrum events and is crucial to using the framework effectively. The retrospective allows teams to reflect on their performance and identify areas for improvement. However, it's not enough to simply discuss what went well and what didn't. To truly make progress as a team, the retrospective must result in actionable steps that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound (i.e., SMART goals).
But how do we ensure that these goals are effective and achievable? The answer lies in experimentation. Rather than simply setting goals based on assumptions or past experiences, teams should approach them as hypotheses to be tested. This means identifying a specific action, determining how to measure its impact, and then testing it over a defined period of time.
The language of experiments is particularly useful in retrospectives because it helps teams think more rigorously about how they will achieve their goals and how they will measure success. It also allows for a more objective assessment of progress, as data can be gathered and analyzed to determine whether or not the experiment was successful.
Of course, by their nature, experiments test assumptions and may not provide the desired results. However, even experiments that don't go the way you expected will provide valuable insights that can inform future actions. By taking a scientific approach to retrospectives and SMART goal-setting, scrum teams can continuously improve and work toward achieving their full potential.
Key Takeaways
- Create effective retrospectives with actionable goals
- Use experiments to improve data-driven team performance
- Use retrospectives to measure team improvement
Need to watch any of the other videos in the series? Find the links below!
Need to watch any of the other videos in the series? Find the links below!
RL_158_12-steps-running-retrospectives-like-pro-step-2
Presenter(s)
John McFadyen is an Executive and Enterprise Agile Coach with proven experience working on some of the UK and Europe’s largest, most complex Agile Transformations.
As a Certified Scrum Trainer, John brings a wealth of experience as an Agile coach, Agile practitioner and software developer into each of the 4 core courses he provides.
Certified ScrumMaster
Certified Scrum Product Owner
Advanced Certified ScrumMaster
Certified Scrum Professional ScrumMaster
The war stories, the insights into successful Agile transformations and everything he has learned from coaching high-performance Agile teams combines to provide course delegates with a unique, compelling training experience that transforms as much as it empowers.
John is passionate about cultivating high-performing Agile organisations that unleash people’s passion and creativity. As an Agile coach, John has worked with C-Suite level individuals on cultivating and embedding Business Agility within the DNA or large organisations.
In addition to being an Agile coach and Certified Scrum Trainer, John is also a founding partner of Agile Centre.
As an entrepreneur, John works at growing Agile capability with clients from around the world. Agile Centre has fast established itself as a pioneer in the cultivation and development of Agile capabilities within organisations great and small.
John leverages his experience as an Agile coach, consultant and trainer to help organisations embed Agile values, mindsets and develop a high-performance culture of Business Agility.
John is also deeply invested in growing the next generation of great Scrum Masters via the Agile Coaching Academy. An 18-month journey that helps practitioners move through an apprenticeship in Agile coaching through to journeyman and practising Agile coach.
John is also an international keynote speaker, author and Business Agility mentor. Visit www.johnmcfadyen.com for more insights into John’s writing, thought leadership and mentorship.
