A 15-minute presentation/simulation/debrief that you can use to teach the power of Retrospectives to anyone.

1. The Retrospective
A Technique for Continuous Improvement
2011 Kumido Adaptive Strategies LLC www.kumido.com

2. How to Use Retrospectives
• Hold at regular intervals
(not just once!)
• Focused conversation between involved
parties on specifics of the past interval:
1. What worked/went well?
2. What didn’t work/didn’t go well?
3. What can we try next time?
2011 Kumido Adaptive Strategies LLC www.kumido.com

3. Retrospective Exercise
“One, two, three, four,
I declare a Thumb War!”
2011 Kumido Adaptive Strategies LLC www.kumido.com

4. Retrospective Exercise
We will do 3 Rounds of
• Play (30s)
• Retrospect (1m 30s)
1. worked 2. didn’t work 3. let’s try
Your Goal: maximize your points each round
Scoring each round:
• Each Team: “1 pin = 1 win”
• Highest-scoring Team: points = total wins
• Other Teams: points = 1/2 highest pair
2011 Kumido Adaptive Strategies LLC www.kumido.com

5. Debrief: What Happened?
How to maximize
points within the rules
How to win at
Thumb War
Rules for
Thumb War
2011 Kumido Adaptive Strategies LLC www.kumido.com

6. Debrief: Questions
1. How likely is it that you could have known
how to “maximize points” in this game prior
to play?
2. How does the Retrospective technique
compare to “measure twice, cut once?”
3. How effective is only one Retrospective?
Why?
4. How can you use the Retrospective technique
in your life/work?
2011 Kumido Adaptive Strategies LLC www.kumido.com

7. Thank You!
Agile Retrospectives:
Making Good Teams Great
Derby, Larsen Simulation adapted from “Thumb Wars”
http://blog.tastycupcakes.com/2010/01/thumb-wars/
accessed March 13, 2010
2011 Kumido Adaptive Strategies LLC www.kumido.com