Sprint Retrospective Checklist
This detailed checklist provides a comprehensive guide for conducting effective Sprint Retrospectives. It covers key areas to consider before, during, and after the retrospective meeting to ensure a productive and action-oriented session focused on continuous improvement. This checklist is designed to be a valuable resource for Scrum Masters, Agile teams, and anyone involved in facilitating or participating in Sprint Retrospectives, and can be included in a PDF document for easy reference and use.
Purpose of the Sprint Retrospective
The Sprint Retrospective is a crucial inspect and adapt event in Scrum. Its primary purpose is for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the upcoming Sprint.
Key objectives include:
- Identifying what went well during the Sprint.
- Discussing what did not go well and identifying root causes.
- Brainstorming and selecting actionable improvements.
- Fostering a culture of continuous improvement and psychological safety within the team.
Sprint Retrospective Checklist
Here is a detailed checklist, broken down into phases for clarity:
Phase 1: Preparation (Before the Retrospective)
- Schedule the Retrospective:
- Ensure the meeting is scheduled promptly after the Sprint Review and before the next Sprint Planning.
- Confirm the meeting fits within the recommended timebox (e.g., maximum 3 hours for a one-month Sprint, shorter for shorter Sprints).
- Choose a Suitable Location/Platform:
- Select a physical meeting space that encourages collaboration and open discussion, or configure a virtual meeting space with appropriate tools (whiteboard, sticky notes, etc.).
- Ensure all necessary tools and technology are available and working (projector, video conferencing, collaboration software, etc.).
- Prepare the Agenda and Format:
- Define the specific goal or focus for the retrospective, if any (e.g., focusing on team communication, the Definition of Done, etc.).
- Choose a suitable retrospective format or activity based on the team's needs and maturity level (e.g., Start, Stop, Continue; 4 Ls; Mad, Sad, Glad; Starfish; Lean Coffee).
- Prepare the structure and materials required for the chosen format.
- Gather Relevant Data (Optional but Recommended):
- Collect objective data from the Sprint that might be relevant for inspection (e.g., burndown chart, velocity, number of impediments, completed vs. incomplete stories, testing metrics, deployment frequency).
- Gather subjective data by encouraging team members to reflect privately before the meeting (e.g., using a shared document or a simple prompt).
- Ensure Psychological Safety:
- As the facilitator, prepare to reinforce the "Prime Directive" of the retrospective: "Regardless of what we discover, we understand and truly believe that everyone did the best job they could, given 1 what they knew at the time, their skills and abilities, resources available, and the situation as a whole."
- Plan how to create a safe and open environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their honest thoughts without fear of blame.
- Send Out an Invitation and Reminder:
- Send a clear invitation to all Scrum Team members (Development Team, Scrum Master, Product Owner) with the agenda, time, and location/link.
- Send a reminder closer to the meeting time.
