retrospectives

Retrospectives are structured, regular meetings in agile and other collaborative work contexts where teams reflect on a recently completed iteration or project phase to identify improvements. The aim is to learn from experience, reinforce effective practices, and adapt processes, tools, and collaboration patterns.

In software development, retrospectives are a core practice of Agile and Scrum, commonly called Sprint Retrospectives and held at the end of each sprint. The practice embodies the inspect-and-adapt principle and aligns with continuous improvement, Kaizen, and systems thinking. While originated in software, retrospectives are used in IT operations, product development, education, and other teams seeking ongoing improvement.

Most retrospectives are timeboxed and facilitated by a neutral moderator. Participants discuss what went well, what did not, and concrete actions to implement in the next period. Common formats include start/stop/continue, what went well/what could be improved, or cards and silent write-ups to surface issues before discussion. Action items are tracked and assigned to owners with deadlines.

Benefits include improved team learning, faster delivery, better risk management, and stronger collaboration. When effective, retrospectives surface impediments, align expectations, and create a clear plan for improvement. Risks include superficial discussions, blame, or failure to follow through on actions, and a need for psychological safety and supportive leadership.

Best practices emphasize a safe environment, clear goals, rotating facilitators, and regular follow-up on action items. While strongly associated with Scrum, retrospectives can be adapted to Kanban, XP, or non‑agile projects to support continuous improvement.