Introduction to Retrospective Facilitation

Ville Ruuskanen

@_wjr_

About me

2010 Agile! 2011 Retrospectives in own team2012 Retrospectives for others

What?

When?

Why?

Who?

What?

ImprovementFollow-up on
previous actionsOne of the Scrum
ceremoniesInformal
meeting

When?

End of projectEnd of iterationAgreed
cycle

Why?

Lessons learnedImprovementSharing
experiences

Who?

The teamParticipates

Facilitates

Scrum MasterAnyoneAll involvedExperienced
facilitator

Structure of a Retrospective

1. Set the Stage2. Gather Data3. Generate Insights4. Decide What to Do5. Close the Retrospective

Set the StageStructure of a Retrospective

Gather Data

Generate Insights

Decide Whatto Do

Close the Retros.

State the focus of the retrospectiveGet everyone "alert"Review previous decisions and actionsPrime DirectiveTest the group

Set the Stage

Prime Directive

"Regardless of what we discover, we understand and truly believe that everyone did the best job they could, given what they knew at the time, their skills and abilities, the resources available, and the situation at hand. At the end of a project everyone knows so much more. Naturally we will discover decisions and actions we wish we could do over. This is wisdom to be celebrated, not judgement used to embarrass."

Collect facts and feelingsCreate shared understanding of what happened

Gather Data

Interpret the data for causes and effects, strengths and issues etc.

Generate Insights

great success!

do more often

no time for testing

add a tester to the team

refine DOD?

PO should know this

Pick a few actionable improvements

Decide Whatto Do

What about project retrospectives?

Review the resultsFeedback!

Close the Retros.

Structure of a Retrospective

1. Set the Stage2. Gather Data3. Generate Insights4. Decide What to Do5. Close the Retrospective

Structure of a Retrospective

0. Preparation1. Set the Stage2. Gather Data3. Generate Insights4. Decide What to Do5. Close the Retrospective

Preparation

SpaceActivitiesTimeMaterials

Example

Retrospective at the end of a release
(4 weeks) for a team of 8

Example - Space

Large enoughMovable furnitureWhiteboard / Flipchart

Example - Activities

1. Set the Stage check-in2. Gather Data mad-sad-glad3. Generate Insights prioritize with dots4. Decide What to Do SMART goals5. Close the Retrospective +/delta

Example - Time

0. Preparation 60 minutes

1. Set the Stage 10 minutes2. Gather Data 40 minutes3. Generate Insights 30 minutes4. Decide What to Do 15 minutes5. Close the Retrospective 10 minutes + buffer 15 minutes

Total: 1 h + 2 h

Example - Materials

Facilitator?

one that helps to bring about an outcome (as learning, productivity, or communication) by providing indirect or unobtrusive assistance, guidance, or supervision Merriam-Webster online dictionary

Facilitation = Management + Leadership

Manage
time
activities
group

Lead
the people

Warning!
Do not steer or manipulate the group

Practice!

http://pragprog.com/book/dlret/agile-retrospectives

http://leanpub.com/the-retrospective-handbook

Thank you!