🔍 Project Detective
Step into the role of super-sleuths, examining every clue from our last sprint. Let’s identify what tactics to start, stop, and continue for future cases. Time to crack the code to a smarter, smoother project!
Template Columns
🕵️♂️ New Clues (Start)
Share new ideas or practices we should investigate and introduce to improve our team’s process.
Base column: Start🚫 Red Herrings (Stop)
Point out ineffective habits or obstacles that led us astray and should be eliminated from our workflow.
Base column: Stop🔎 Proven Methods (Continue)
Highlight successful strategies that helped us crack the case and should remain part of our squad’s playbook.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Project Detective retrospective empowers your team to analyze the previous sprint with fresh eyes, identifying new ideas to try, obstacles to stop, and proven tactics to continue. It’s a process-improvement format that encourages creative thinking and practical action.
When to use this template
Use this retrospective when you want the team to thoroughly investigate what’s working, what needs to change, and where new experiments might help. It's ideal at the end of a sprint or after completing a challenging project phase.
How to facilitate
Set the scene by introducing the detective theme and encouraging everyone to approach the session with curiosity and open-mindedness.
Briefly review the purpose of each column: New Clues for ideas to try, Red Herrings for what’s not working, Proven Methods for what works.
Allow team members time to reflect individually and post their thoughts in each column.
Facilitate a group discussion by going through each column, uncovering patterns and highlighting unexpected findings.
Encourage the team to collaboratively group similar items and prioritize which points deserve immediate attention.
Identify concrete actions by agreeing on two or three experiments (from New Clues) and specific behaviors or processes to stop and continue.
Close with a quick round of appreciations or ‘case solved’ moments to reinforce a sense of accomplishment and team spirit.
Pro Tips
Prompt the team to think beyond obvious process issues—look for small clues or subtle friction points.
Connect findings to real project outcomes to ground discussions in evidence, not just opinion.
Rotate the facilitator role each time to keep discussions fresh and empower different voices.
Document action items clearly and assign owners to maximize accountability.
FAQ
What if team members only fill out the 'stop' column?
Prompt them with targeted questions for each column and remind them about the value of sharing both positives and new ideas, not just problems.
How do I handle a large number of items in each column?
Group similar items together and use dot-voting or prioritization techniques to focus on the most impactful points.
What if participants get stuck or quiet?
Ask guiding questions framed in the detective theme, such as 'What’s a new clue we spotted?' or 'Any red herrings tricked us this sprint?'.
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At a glance
- Duration
40–55 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective