The WRAP (Wishes, Risks, Appreciations, Puzzles) Retrospective

What is the Wrap Retrospective?

The WRAP or WARP retrospective as it is sometime known is an alternative way to run a retrospective that can help make things more fun and engaging. It encourages the team to think about possibilities and to expand their current mental state of mind, helps to build rapport with the team while still having a good grip around risk management. The concept was based on Actions for Retrospectives, based on Nick Oostvogel’s Actions Centered, which aim to explore different aspects of a sprint or event.

WRAP Retrospective

This alternative retrospective format might be good for helping to build team culture and moving to a more positive mindset, with a sense of gratitude.By expanding the team to examine multiple aspects of a sprint, it can help promote original ideas whilst still recognising the people who have brought value to the project so far. This you break away from repetitive, boring retrospective analysis strategies and brings fresh thinking into the mix.

The Key Components of a WRAP Retrospective

Try a live demo with our fun bots

Tips and learnings in running a WRAP retrospective.

Wishes

This topic can produce some far fetched, unusual ideas that might challenge the mindset, culture or even the status quo. However, this is the main point of having this category. Encourage people to think about ideal states and what would make the next sprint something that they would be happy with. During the discussion, you can then wind things back by having the team evaluate the ideas and assess feasibility, but don’t do this at the start of the brainstorming process.

Risks

This is often a good topic for people to dot vote on what they think are the biggest risks that need to be discussed at the meeting. Mitigating actions can then be specifically put in place to address those risks.

Appreciations

It is not very often that teams get permission to recognise or give shout-outs to others. So give people some time and space to recognise the work that was done. It can be humbling but also rewarding. Overall it helps to recognise effort and outcomes as well promote continued excellent and team rapport. It doesn’t have to always be about work either.

Puzzles

This is a good place for new ideas which wouldn’t otherwise happen if you ran a simple stop, start continue retrospective. It is a good home for wonderings which can lead to other views and sharing of knowledge. The puzzles may not be technical in nature and can often help uncover communication issues or misinformation.

TeamRetro-Fun-Retrospective-Idea-WRAP-CR-image

Suggested Icebreaker questions for WRAP Retrospective

  • When do you find yourself wishing for something?
  • Name someone you’ve always appreciated and why?
  • What’s something that puzzled you as a kid?

Retro Rehearsal

Invite your team to rehearse the retro referencing something that will happen soon.

For example, Check out this clip –  What wish, risk, appreciation or puzzle does it spark in you?

How to run a WRAP Retrospective in TeamRetro

Start Agile Retrospective

Start your retrospective in a click
Log into TeamRetro and choose your sprint retrospective template.

Invite Your Team
Invite your team easily – no separate accounts needed
Send an email invite, a link or add to your Slack channel to get people started quickly. SSO options are also available.
Agile Retrospective Brainstorm
Time to brainstorm
Each team member can now brainstorm individually under each topic. This avoids group think and allows everyone to have their say. They can indicate when they have finished, or you can set a timer so that you know when to move onto the next stage.
Grouping of ideas after brainstorming in a retrospective meeting
Group related ideas
Drag and drop  related ideas to combine them for easier voting. TeamRetro can also automatically suggest ideas that are similar, saving you and your team valuable time.
Grouping of ideas after brainstorming in a retrospective meeting
Vote independently to avoid anchoring
Each team member votes on what they would most like to discuss further. The results won’t be displayed to everyone until you advance to Discuss.
Grouping of ideas after brainstorming in a retrospective meeting

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.

Grouping of ideas after brainstorming in a retrospective meeting

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.

Grouping of ideas after brainstorming in a retrospective meeting

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.

Congratulations! You’ve just run a retro like a boss.
Want more? Read on.
Try a live demo with our fun bots
Run your WRAP Retrospective now
Have a comment, suggestion or question? We’d love to hear from you.