Retrospective

Retrospective is a term used to describe a review of past events, works, or conditions. As a noun, it denotes an overview or exhibition that presents a body of material from an individual or organization over time; as an adjective, it relates to looking back or reflecting on the past.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin retrospective, from retro- “back” and specere “to look”; by extension, looking back.

In the arts, a retrospective exhibition or program collects representative works from an artist, composer, or filmmaker, often spanning their career and offering context through notes. In cinema, a film retrospective surveys a director's or actor's body of work. In epidemiology, a retrospective study analyzes existing records to investigate associations between exposures and outcomes.

In professional practice, retrospective discussions are used to learn from completed work. In project management and agile development, a sprint retrospective is a structured meeting at the end of a development cycle in which the team discusses what went well, what did not, and what actions will be taken to improve process and performance.

Retrospectives emphasize learning and improvement rather than blame, and they may vary in format from formal exhibitions to informal team discussions. They serve as tools for memory, assessment, and future planning, and the term can apply across disciplines including arts, science, and organizational learning.