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.

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

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.

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?