What Is a Sprint Retrospective? | Vantage
Sprint Retrospective A sprint retrospective is a Scrum ceremony held at the end of each sprint where the team reflects on what went well, what did not go well, and what they can improve. The output is 1-3 concrete action items that the team commits to implementing in the next sprint.
Why sprint retrospective matters
Retrospectives are the primary mechanism for continuous improvement. Without them, teams repeat the same mistakes sprint after sprint. With retrospectives, each sprint makes the team slightly better at working together, estimating, communicating, and delivering.
How it works
The team gathers for 60-90 minutes. The Scrum Master facilitates. Common formats: Start/Stop/Continue (what to start doing, stop doing, continue doing), Mad/Sad/Glad (emotional reactions to the sprint), or 4Ls (Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed for). The team votes on the most important topics, discusses root causes, and commits to 1-3 specific action items with owners.
Common mistakes
Skipping retrospectives when sprints are busy (this is when they are needed most)
Not following up on action items from previous retrospectives
Allowing retrospectives to become complaint sessions without solutions
Same person facilitating every time (rotate facilitation for fresh perspectives)
Not making retrospectives psychologically safe (people withhold honest feedback)