Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
The project retrospective meeting helps the team to analyze both successes and the failures, so the team and organization can improve how they work going forward. I think the main purpose of a project "postmortem" is to help the team to shed the tension, crisis and chaos from the project, so they can approach the next one with a good attitude and open mind. What is your opinion? Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Mar 09, 2018 8:28 AM
Replying to Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Dark chocolate.
Of course. That certainly is my preference as well. One of my previous leaders would always have some sort of chocolate, whether for meetings or in his office. Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
Mar 09, 2018 6:16 AM
Replying to Nico Schuster
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I love the chocolate part :)
Haha, absolutely. Wasn’t sure if anyone would catch it. Saving Changes...
Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
Mar 09, 2018 6:12 AM
Replying to Drew Craig
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Be able to show the rationale for the activity, and how the take-away's turn into action and improvement.
Also, make it fun for everyone, not too dry, interactive, and engaging. And, maybe bring some chocolate :)
Thanks Andrew, for your feedback on this.
We used to do cake or pizza with fun games like "bowling" but never tried chocolate. Will try next time :) Saving Changes...
Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
Mar 09, 2018 2:24 AM
Replying to Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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In my experience most team members are ok with a retrospective as it's at the end of a project or iteration, and people are less stressed and open up more about ways to improve things.
Glad to know about your experience, Sante.
I have mixed response, so need to try something different. May be this works fine in a projectized organizational structure.
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Mar 09, 2018 5:55 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Something I also have done before Anish, and this goes for my meetings with virtual team members to make them feel inclusive, is to have a mug created with their name on it, placed around the table with a small gift perhaps then and they drink a beverage from that mug, like hot chocolate or coffee etc. It's a simply gesture but psychologically is creates a sense of "home" with a warm mug in their hands with their name on it, which creates inclusion and recognition. When these factors are in play, people are more likely to open up and cooperate. I usually put the name of the project and the year also, and sometimes a "Thank You" placed there too.
Saving Changes...
Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
Mar 09, 2018 2:41 AM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
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I think reterospectic especially when you are applying agile and/or Scrum are Key. This is the main meeting where the team themselves can improve and adapt. I think team members look forward for the retrospective.
Thanks Rami, for your feedback on this. I agree, team members may feel better after they had a chance to discuss the outcome. Saving Changes...
Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
Mar 09, 2018 3:43 AM
Replying to Nico Schuster
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I think it is vital to explain to everyone on the team why this is such an important step and how it will actually help each project member in a similar situation or in similar projects.
In my experience explaining why things are done and why one considers them important can really help increase awareness and motivation to participate.
I agree Nico and thanks for your feedback on this.
I think as a project leader my role would be to let all team members vent and to keep everyone focused on the process. Saving Changes...
Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
Thanks, Mounir for your feedback on this. I really appreciate it. Saving Changes...
Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
Mar 09, 2018 4:34 AM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
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While is a matter of continues improvement my personal opinion is not to wait to an specific time and an specific meeting. It must be done continuously.
Thanks Sergio, and I agree that it should be a continuous process.
I think if we analyze the project routinely and act upon what we discover, it can improve efficiency. Saving Changes...
Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
Mar 09, 2018 7:48 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Create a safe environment for folks to express their views and use multiple techniques to elicit feedback. The latter is especially important when retros are done frequently to avoid staleness - think Lego, drawing materials, and so on...
Kiron
Thanks Kiron, for your comments on this.
I think providing an opportunity to voice them goes a long way towards diffusing emotions. Saving Changes...
