The Drop Add Keep Improve (DAKI) retrospective is a simple yet powerful way to review processes, projects, or team dynamics. It prompts participants to reflect on what should be dropped (stopped), added (started), kept (continued), and improved (enhanced).
This format provides a structured approach to gather feedback and drive positive change. By focusing on these four key areas, teams can quickly identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for growth.
The DAKI retrospective originated in the Lean manufacturing principles but has been widely adopted in various industries, including software development, due to its effectiveness in continuous improvement.
What is The Drop Add Keep Improve Retrospective
Drop
What practices should we stop or discontinue?
Encourage the team to be open about processes, tools, or behaviors that are no longer serving them well.
Add
What new practices should we adopt?
Encourage creativity and open-mindedness when suggesting new processes or ways of working.
Keep
What's working well that we should continue?
Reinforce the positive by highlighting processes and practices that are benefiting the team.
Improve
What could we do better?
Encourage constructive criticism and focus on actionable improvements rather than complaints.
Suggested Icebreaker Questions
- If our team was a vehicle, what kind would it be and why?
- What's one thing you've learned or improved on since our last retrospective?
Ideas and Tips for Your Retrospective Meeting
- Encourage open and honest feedback by creating a safe, blame-free environment.
- Use anonymous or private voting techniques if the team is hesitant to voice concerns openly.
- Prioritize the most impactful items in each category and create actionable next steps.
- Follow up on agreed improvements in subsequent retrospectives to ensure continuous progress.
- Consider rotating the facilitator role to get fresh perspectives and ensure shared responsibility.
- Set a positive tone by starting and ending with items in the 'Keep' category to reinforce what's going well.
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