Table of Contents
Foreword xiii
Preface xv
Chapter 1: Introduction to Retrospectives 1
THE NEED FOR RITUAL 4
NAMING THE PROCESS 5
PRIME DIRECTIVE FOR A RETROSPECTIVE 7
THE DARKER SIDE OF RETROSPECTIVES 8
THE RETROSPECTIVE FACILITATOR 10
Chapter 2: Anatomy of a Retrospective: A Case Study 13
THE SAMPLE RETROSPECTIVE 13
PREPARING FOR THE RETROSPECTIVE 14
THE RETROSPECTIVE PLAN 16
RETROSPECTIVE DAY 1 18
RETROSPECTIVE DAY 2 25
RETROSPECTIVE DAY 3 28
PREPARING FOR THE FACILITATOR’S JOB 32
Chapter 3: Engineering a Retrospective: Making Choices 35
ENGINEERING A RETROSPECTIVE 37
WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE RETROSPECTIVE? 47
WHERE SHOULD THE RETROSPECTIVE BE HELD? 49
WHEN SHOULD THE RETROSPECTIVE BE HELD? 52
HOW LONG SHOULD A RETROSPECTIVE BE? 53
Chapter 4: Selling a Retrospective 57
UNDERSTANDING THE MARKET FOR RETROSPECTIVE SALES 59
SELLING IS OKAY 62
EFFECTIVE SELLING REQUIRES LISTENING 64
Chapter 5: Preparing for a Retrospective 67
CONNECT WITH THE MANAGERS 69
MAP THE COMMUNITY 73
COLLECT EFFORT DATA 76
READY THE TEAM 84
WHEN TO GET THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT INVOLVED 90
TRACK DETAILS WITH A CHECKLIST 91
WHEN TO ARRIVE FOR THE RETROSPECTIVE 93
Chapter 6: Retrospective Exercises 95
THE EXERCISES 99
DESIGNING A RETROSPECTIVE MEAL 165
Chapter 7: Leading a Postmortem 171
THE CHALLENGER STORY 174
TRANSFORMING THE FAILED-PROJECT EXPERIENCE 175
QUALIFYING TO LEAD A POSTMORTEM 186
SOME IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RETROSPECTIVES AND
POSTMORTEMS 186
Chapter 8: Postmortem Exercises 189
THE EXERCISES 190
Chapter 9: On Becoming a Skilled Retrospective Facilitator 209
SIX LESSONS 211
UNDERSTANDING THE FACILITATOR’S PROCEDURES 220
Chapter 10: After the Retrospective 249
RETROSPECTIVE REPORTS 252
COLLECTING RETROSPECTIVE REPORTS 253
KEEPING THEWISDOM ALIVE 256
A SECURE LOCATION 258
CONDUCT A RETROSPECTIVE OF YOUR RETROSPECTIVE 259
A SECURE LOCATION 258
CONDUCT A RETROSPECTIVE OF YOUR RETROSPECTIVE 259
COLLECTING RETROSPECTIVES-OF-RETROSPECTIVES REPORTS 261
Index 263
