What is the Speed Car retrospective?
The Speed Car retrospective uses the metaphor of a racing car to help agile teams review their last sprint. Participants define the elements that are driving the team forward (Engines), those that are slowing them down (Brakes), and the people who are supporting the team (Pit Crew).
The Speed Car retrospective is somewhat similar to an Anchors and Engines retrospective as it’s great to use in the middle of a project; especially when velocity is a concern. Where it differs, is its inclusion of the ‘Pit Crew’ dimension. This encourages team members to acknowledge the successes and support of others. In doing so an element of team building is included.
Speed Car retrospective format
Engines
What is driving us forward? What resources, processes and skills are supporting our momentum? What strategies are keeping us on track?
Brakes
What is slowing us down? What is hindering our performance? What’s impacting our time or the quality of our work?
Pit Crew
Who is supporting us? Who has helped us and will help us? What made a difference?
Suggested icebreaker questions for the Speed Car retrospective
- Is car racing really a sport? Explain your answer.
- What do you feel is more valuable – the engines or the brakes? Why?
- Who do you consider your personal pit crew and why?
Retro Rehearsal
Apply the Speed Car retrospective to your weekend. What should you start and stop doing?
With the input in mind, will you change your habits?
Ideas and tips for your Speed Car retrospective
- Timebox conversations with the help of a timer. This will keep conversations focused and the retrospective on track.
- Rotate the Scrum Master. This will change the voices that are heard and give people a chance to contribute to the retrospective in a different way.
- Use a Return on Time Invested (ROTI) tool to monitor the effectiveness of your meeting.
- Looking for a way to disrupt groupthink or not let a good idea go to waste? Why not give an asynchronous retrospective a try! As well as offering your team a platform to focus on the project priorities, it allows team members space to contribute their own thoughts in their own time.
- Keep your team agreements in view during your retrospective. Remember you can add to them at any time.
- Make the most of your presentation mode and drill down into ideas at the brainstorming, grouping as well as discussion stages of your retrospective. This will let those who contributed the input the chance to explain and feel heard.
How to run a Speed Car retrospective in TeamRetro
Start your retrospective in a click
Log into TeamRetro and choose your sprint retrospective template.
Discuss the most important things first
You and your team discuss the top voted ideas and can capture deep dive comments. Presentation mode allows you to walk your team through ideas one-by-one and keep the conversation focused.
Review and create actions
Easily facilitate discussion by bringing everyone onto the same page. Create action items, assign owners and due dates that will carry through for review at the next retrospective.
Share the results
Once you have finished your retro, you can share the results and actions with the team. Your retro will be stored so you can revisit them as needed.