🐠🏭 Deep Sea Factory
Dive into the depths of our project as we run the underwater factory—discover what gears to engage, which leaks to seal, and how to keep the production currents flowing.
Template Columns
🔧⚡ Start the Engines
Identify new processes or tools to power up our undersea production line.
Base column: Start🛑🌊 Stop the Leaks
Pinpoint practices that cause rust or flooding in our workflow.
Base column: Stop🔄🐙 Continue the Currents
Maintain the smooth flows that keep our submarine factory operating efficiently.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
A themed retrospective that helps teams surface new ideas, stop problematic practices, and keep effective workflows flowing, using an underwater factory metaphor.
When to use this template
Use when the team needs a fresh perspective on processes, especially after a sprint with mixed outcomes or when workflow bottlenecks are evident.
How to facilitate
Set the scene by sharing the Deep Sea Factory story and explain each column metaphor
Gather ideas for Start the Engines, Stop the Leaks, and Continue the Currents using silent brainstorming on virtual sticky notes
Group similar ideas and discuss each, focusing on impact and feasibility
Prioritize actions by voting and assign owners for the top items
Summarize decisions, define next steps, and close with a quick pulse check
Pro Tips
Encourage participants to use nautical language to keep the metaphor vivid
Limit each idea to one concise sentence to keep the board manageable
Set a timer for each column to maintain momentum and equal participation
FAQ
What if the team struggles to generate ideas for a column?
Prompt with concrete examples, allow a quick round‑robin, or use silent brainstorming to give everyone time to think before sharing.
How do we handle dominant voices during discussion?
Introduce a talking token or a rule that each person shares one point before anyone speaks again, ensuring balanced input.
Can we combine this template with other retrospectives?
Yes, you can run the Deep Sea Factory as a focused segment within a larger retrospective or after a standard Start‑Stop‑Continue session.
Want a custom template?
Create a retrospective template tailored to your team's needs with our AI-powered generator
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective