Agile Retrospective and Continuous Improvement

Question 1

Lessons learned are the knowledge gained during a project which shows how project _______ or ________ could be improved for future projects.”

Answer 1

Success
Failure

Question 2

What are the four standard steps for gathering lessons learned in an Agile project? Fill in the blanks:

_______ what went well

Target Areas for _______

_______ (highest value-adding changes)

_______ Plan

Answer 2

Identify what went well

Target Areas for Improvement

Prioritization (highest value-adding changes)

Action Plan

Question 3

Arrange the following words in the correct order to complete the Agile Manifesto statement:

adjusts

reflects

tunes

effective

“At regular intervals, the team ____ on how to become more ____, then ____ and ____ accordingly.”

Answer 3

“At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts accordingly.”

Question 4

True or False: Norman L. Kerth describes a project retrospective in his Book “Project Retrospectives” as:
“A retrospective is a ritual gathering of the team at the end of a project to reflect and learn from the experience.”

Answer 4

True

Question 5

According to Esther Derby and Diana Larsen in Agile Retrospectives (2006):

“A retrospective is a special meeting where the team _______ on past iterations, _______ successes and challenges, and _______ ways to improve.”

This definition aligns with which Agile Manifesto principle?

Answer 5

“A retrospective is a special meeting where the team reflects on past iterations, identifies successes and challenges, and decides ways to improve.”

📌 Aligned Principle:
“At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly.”

Question 6

According to the Agile Alliance, what is the primary purpose of a retrospective?

A) To celebrate team achievements and move on
B) To reflect on what happened in an iteration and identify improvements
C) To review only the mistakes made and assign blame
D) To plan the next sprint backlog without discussing the past

Answer 6

Correct Answer: B) To reflect on what happened in an iteration and identify improvements

📌 Agile Alliance Definition:
“A retrospective is an opportunity for a team to reflect on what happened in the iteration and identify actions for improvement going forward.”

Question 7

In the scrum framework, how is a retrospective commonly referred to?

Answer 7

Sprint Retrospective.

Question 8

True or False: A retrospective can be referred to generally as an “iteration retrospective”

Answer 8

True, for example in XP.

Question 9

Retrospectives improve _________ by helping teams analyze inefficiencies, remove blockers, and continuously optimize their workflow.

Answer 9

Productivity
Retrospectives improve productivity by helping teams analyze inefficiencies, remove blockers, and continuously optimize their workflow.

Question 10

How do Agile retrospectives enhance team capability?

A) By identifying skill gaps and learning opportunities
B) By increasing work hours to meet deadlines
C) By assigning blame for past mistakes
D) By ensuring everyone follows the same process

Answer 10

A) By identifying skill gaps and learning opportunities
Retrospectives help teams recognize areas for growth and skill development, improving their overall capability.

Question 11

Match the retrospective benefit to its impact:

Productivity

Capability

Capacity

Quality

A) Helps teams refine their skills
B) Optimizes workflow and removes blockers
C) Improves ability to handle more work
D) Enhances deliverables by reducing defects

Which number matches Quality

Answer 11

4 → D) Enhances deliverables by reducing defects
Retrospectives help teams improve quality by identifying defects and refining processes for better outcomes.

Question 12

How do retrospectives promote empowerment and ownership in Agile teams?

Answer 12

Retrospectives encourage team members to take responsibility for improvements, voice concerns, and contribute to decision-making, fostering a sense of ownership.

Question 13

🔹 True or False? 🔹

Agile retrospectives automatically increase a team’s capacity by adding more team members and assigning extra work.

Answer 13

False!
Retrospectives don’t automatically increase capacity. Instead, they help teams identify inefficiencies and optimize workflows, allowing them to handle more work effectively.

Question 14

How do Agile retrospectives contribute to team enjoyment?

Answer 14

Retrospectives create a positive and engaging environment by encouraging open communication, celebrating wins, and fostering collaboration—making work more enjoyable.

Question 15

List four benefits of an having a retrospective mindset.

Answer 15

1. More positive than other types of reviews because of the celebration of successes and the factors that contributed to them.
2. Undesirable outcomes are framed as opportunities.
3. Team is in control and does not need permission to make changes.
4. Occur regularly, with short timespans in between.

Question 16

What is Norman L. Kerth’s “Prime Directive” in Project Retrospectives? 🔹

A) It focuses on assigning blame for mistakes
B) It emphasizes that everyone did the best they could with the knowledge and resources available at the time
C) It encourages team members to remain silent and avoid sharing feedback
D) It prioritizes individual performance over team success

Answer 16

It emphasizes that everyone did the best they could with the knowledge and resources available at the time

📌 Prime Directive:
In Project Retrospectives, Norman L. Kerth’s Prime Directive states:
“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 the resources available.”

Question 17

Fill in the blanks from Norman L. Kerth’s Prime Directive in Project Retrospectives:

“Regardless of what we discover, we understand and truly believe that everyone did the best job they could, given what they _______ at the time, their _______ , and the _______ available.”

Answer 17

knew
skills
resources

Question 18

What is the best practice guideline for the duration of a retrospective?

Answer 18

Thirty to 45 minutes for every week of work.

Question 19

What are the four dependencies to consider for the length of a retrospective?

Answer 19

Size of Team
Duration of Iteration
Complexity of the work
Overall level of team conflict.

Question 20

True or False: the following should be considered when selecting a room for retrospective.
- Size is large enough for all participants.
- access to materials to display and share captured information.
- Classroom configuration to promote listening
- Room lighting for clear visibility.
- Changing the room if the factors are not satisfied

Answer 20

False: the room configuration should be U-shaped or clustered to allow for face-to-face communication.

Question 21

True or False: Timing should be considered for when to conduct a retrospective, and ideally this is before a common trigger time such as before lunch, the end of the workday or the end of the work week.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

What are the five phase in Derby’s and Larsen’s agile retrospective framework.

Answer 22

Set the Stage
Gather Data
Generate Insights
Decide What to Do
Close the Retrospective

Question 23

What is the approximate percentage of time spent in each phase of Derby and Larsen’s retrospective framework?

Set the Stage: ______%
Gather Data: ______%
Generate Insights: ______%
Decide What to Do: ______%
Close the Retrospective: ______%

Answer 23

Set the Stage: 5%

Gather Data: 40%

Generate Insights: 25%

Decide What to Do: 20%

Close the Retrospective: 10%

Question 24

What is the facilitator’s role during the “Set the Stage” phase of Derby & Larsen’s retrospective framework?
A- Create a safe environment, clarify the purpose, set ground rules, and engage the team
B - Focus only on gathering data from the team
C - Assign tasks to team members
D - Review the entire project history

Answer 24

A- Create a safe environment, clarify the purpose, set ground rules, and engage the team

Question 25

How does the facilitator confirm safety in the "set the stage" part of the retrospective framework

Answer 25

Ask the question "how safe do you feel to share your thoughts and ideas" and use the fist of five voting. If anyone has 2 or fewer fingers, the root causes should be identified and mitigated or to not proceed with the retrospective.

Question 26

Why is the "Gather Data" stage important in an Agile retrospective? A) It allows the facilitator to assign tasks and priorities. B) It helps the team reflect on past actions and identify key patterns or issues. C) It provides time for team members to engage in unrelated personal conversations. D) It focuses solely on reviewing the project timeline without considering team feedback.

Answer 26

Correct Answer: B) It helps the team reflect on past actions and identify key patterns or issues. The "Gather Data" stage is critical for collecting insights, understanding what worked and what didn’t, and identifying areas for improvement in the team's processes and interactions.

Question 27

🔹 True or False? 🔹 The "Niko-Niko Calendar," as described by Derby and Larsen, is a tool used to track the team’s emotional state over time by having team members mark their mood daily with smiley faces, providing insights into team morale.

Answer 27

True! The "Niko-Niko" concept uses smiley faces to help the team reflect on their current emotional state, creating awareness and encouraging open conversations about how the team is feeling.

Question 28

The generate insights part of Derby 's and Larsen's retrospective framework allow the team to ________, ________________________________, identify ____________, and collectively consider _________________ to help make the team work more effectively.

Answer 28

Step back See the big picture Root causes Possible solutions

Question 29

What is the purpose of the "5 Whys" technique in the Generate Insights phase of Derby and Larsen's retrospective framework? A) To assign blame for problems B) To identify the root cause of an issue by asking "why" repeatedly C) To prioritize tasks for the next sprint D) To brainstorm creative solutions without analyzing underlying problems

Answer 29

Correct Answer: B) To identify the root cause of an issue by asking "why" repeatedly The "5 Whys" technique helps the team dig deeper into the underlying causes of an issue by repeatedly asking "why" until the root cause is identified, promoting deeper insights and solutions.

Question 30

What happens during the "Decide What to Do" phase of Derby and Larsen’s retrospective framework?

Answer 30

The team generates ideas for improvement and selects actionable items to implement in future iterations In the "Decide What to Do" phase, the team chooses specific, actionable improvements to implement in future work, ensuring the retrospective leads to tangible results for continuous improvement.

Question 31

What is the main purpose of the "Close the Retrospective" phase in Derby and Larsen's retrospective framework?

Answer 31

The main purpose of the "Close the Retrospective" phase is to acknowledge the team’s contributions, reflect on the session’s effectiveness, and express appreciation for the team's participation. It often includes a closing activity or a final check-in to ensure the session ends on a positive note.

Question 32

What is the purpose of the ROTI Table in Derby and Larsen's retrospective framework? A) To collect feedback on the team's individual performance B) To assess the retrospective's effectiveness by asking participants how satisfied they are with the session C) To generate ideas for the next sprint's backlog D) To track the team's emotional state during the retrospective

Answer 32

B) To assess the retrospective's effectiveness by asking participants how satisfied they are with the session The ROTI Table (Return on Time Invested) helps the team evaluate the value of the retrospective by asking participants to rate their satisfaction with the session, helping identify areas for improvement in future retrospectives.

Question 33

What are the five levels in the ROTI Table (Return on Time Invested) used to assess a retrospective?

Answer 33

0. Very little or no value 1. Some value or benefit, but below expectations for invested time. 2. Equal value or benefit met expectations. 3. Good value or benefit, surpassed expectations. 4. High Value or benefit exceeded expectations.

Question 34

What is Alistair Cockburn’s definition of "Process Analysis" from his book Agile Software Development? A) Analyzing the profitability of agile methodologies B) Reviewing past projects to determine the success rate of team members C) Examining processes to identify inefficiencies and improve their effectiveness D) Evaluating the project timeline and adjusting deadlines

Answer 34

C) Examining processes to identify inefficiencies and improve their effectiveness In Agile Software Development, Process Analysis is the practice of examining existing processes, identifying inefficiencies, and continuously improving them to make teams more effective and adaptable.

Question 35

Which criteria best matches the team factor of Open Communication in promoting successful process analysis? A) Encourages transparency and sharing of insights to identify process improvements B) Brings different perspectives to analyze and improve processes from multiple angles C) Ensures that process analysis is not a one-time event, but an ongoing effort D) Provides focus and alignment for analyzing processes effectively

Answer 35

A) Encourages transparency and sharing of insights to identify process improvements

Question 36

Which criteria best matches the team factor of Clear Goals in promoting successful process analysis? A) Brings different perspectives to analyze and improve processes from multiple angles B) Fosters a culture of trust and learning, enabling teams to address inefficiencies without blame C) Encourages transparency and sharing of insights to identify process improvements D) Provides focus and alignment for analyzing processes effectively

Answer 36

D) Provides focus and alignment for analyzing processes effectively

Question 37

Which criteria best matches the team factor of Diverse Skill Set in promoting successful process analysis?

Answer 37

A) Ensures that process analysis is not a one-time event, but an ongoing effort B) Brings different perspectives to analyze and improve processes from multiple angles C) Provides focus and alignment for analyzing processes effectively D) Fosters a culture of trust and learning, enabling teams to address inefficiencies without blame

Question 38

Which criteria best matches the team factor of Continuous Improvement in promoting successful process analysis? A) Brings different perspectives to analyze and improve processes from multiple angles B) Provides focus and alignment for analyzing processes effectively C) Encourages transparency and sharing of insights to identify process improvements D) Ensures that process analysis is not a one-time event, but an ongoing effort

Answer 38

D) Ensures that process analysis is not a one-time event, but an ongoing effort

Question 39

Which criteria best matches the team factor of Constructive Feedback in promoting successful process analysis? A) Provides focus and alignment for analyzing processes effectively B) Fosters a culture of trust and learning, enabling teams to address inefficiencies without blame C) Brings different perspectives to analyze and improve processes from multiple angles D) Encourages transparency and sharing of insights to identify process improvements

Answer 39

B) Fosters a culture of trust and learning, enabling teams to address inefficiencies without blame

Question 40

What does Kaizen mean?

Answer 40

Kai = Change Zen = Good

Question 41

Match the Kaizen Event to the description: 1. Orientation 2. Understand the current situation 3. Develop Future State Design 4. Make the Improvements 5. Report and Celebrate A) Share the results, recognize achievements, and celebrate the improvements made B) Design the future state by creating a new, improved process that addresses identified issues C)Evaluate the current state of processes, identify issues, and gather data for improvement D) Implement the changes or improvements based on the design created. E) Introduce the team to the process and set expectations for the Kaizen event

Answer 41

1 - E 2 - C 3 - B 4 - D 5 - A

Question 42

True or False: Agile reviews follow the scientific method?

Answer 42

True The Agile reviews follow this process: Make observations, think of questions, formulate hypothesis, develop predictions, gather data/experiment.

Question 43

What are the common feedback methods?

Answer 43

Protypes, simulations and demonstrations.

Question 44

Why is effective product feedback important in Agile project management? (Select all that apply) A) It ensures continuous improvement through iterative refinements. B) It helps align development with user needs. C) It slows down the development process to allow for more planning. D) It reduces risk by identifying issues early.

Answer 44

A, B, D

Question 45

What does IKIWISI stand for? Why is it important?

Answer 45

IKIWISI = I'll know it when I see it. It is important as it embodies the principle of "working software is the primary measure of progress" and acknowledges that customer's true requirements only emerge once there is a tangible solution.

Question 46

The basic learning cycle is: __________ something, having an experience. __________ on the experience ___________ from the experience ___________ the next steps to apply the experience learnings.

Answer 46

Doing Reflecting Concluding Planning