Templates · Essentials

Learning Matrix

Four short labels for what went well, what went badly, ideas for the next sprint and thanks to specific people.

What it is

Four labels that could hardly be shorter: a smiling face, a frowning face, “Idea!” and “Appreciation”. Think of a square cut into four quadrants; on the board they stand side by side as four columns.

Goal

What the team takes from the sprint, in four kinds: what to repeat, what cost it, what to try, and whom to thank.

When to use it

• For a short retrospective: the labels are read in a second and the cards stay brief.
• With a large or mixed group.
• For a regular sprint, as a change from columns with long titles.

When to pick another format

The labels do not guide much. If the team needs fuller prompts, Thumbs up, Thumbs down, New ideas, Recognition asks the same four questions in words. If one problem needs depth, use Fishbone Analysis. If the mood is the subject, Mad, Sad, Glad gives feelings three columns, not one face.

How to run it

Since the faces say little, tell the group what each column is for before anyone writes.

1. :) What went well and is worth repeating.
2. :( What went badly and cost the team something: time, quality, calm.
3. Idea! Proposals for the next sprint. An idea may answer a problem or come from nowhere.
4. Appreciation: thanks addressed to specific people, with what they did.

Read the last column aloud first; it needs no vote. Group and vote on the other three. Discuss the most voted cards of :( together with the cards of Idea! and keep the proposals the team wants to carry out, each with an owner and a date. Before closing, look at :) once more and name what is worth doing again on purpose.

Columns

To start a retrospective from this template, see Create a retro.