🕸️⏳ Scope Creep Exorcism
Team, let’s banish the creeping bugs devouring our timeline, align our backlog, and reclaim sprint sanity in this haunted‑project retro.
Template Columns
🛡️ Guard the Scope
Identify protective actions to start that keep scope in check.
Base column: Start🛑 Halt the Creep
Pinpoint practices to stop that let scope silently expand.
Base column: Stop⚙️ Keep the Rhythm
Continue habits that maintain steady progress despite distractions.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
A focused retro to surface and stop scope creep, define guardrails, and reinforce steady delivery habits.
When to use this template
Use when the sprint backlog keeps expanding unexpectedly or the team feels overwhelmed by unplanned work.
How to facilitate
Set the stage by reminding the team of the sprint goal and the definition of done, then explain the purpose of the Scope Creep Exorcism retro
Ask each participant to write on virtual sticky notes examples of work that slipped into the sprint without explicit approval, placing them in the Halt the Creep column
Collect ideas for protective actions that can prevent future creep, such as stricter backlog grooming or a clear change‑request gate, and add them to the Guard the Scope column
Identify and move any practices that helped keep the sprint on track despite distractions into the Keep the Rhythm column, discussing why they worked
Vote on the top two items in each column, turn them into concrete sprint actions, assign owners, and capture them in the sprint board
Pro Tips
Schedule a quick scope‑check checkpoint mid‑sprint to catch emerging changes before they snowball
Use a visual ‘scope wall’ on your Kanban board that flags any new item added after sprint planning
Limit the number of external stakeholder requests per sprint and require a brief impact assessment before acceptance
FAQ
What if the team can’t agree on what counts as scope creep?
Facilitate a brief definition exercise, referencing the sprint goal and the agreed‑upon definition of done, then let the group vote on borderline items
How do we handle external stakeholder requests that appear after sprint planning?
Create a lightweight change‑request form that requires impact analysis and a quick team review before the work is added to the sprint
What if the ‘Continue’ column feels empty?
Prompt the team to think about habits that kept the sprint moving, such as daily stand‑ups or automated testing, and capture even small practices that reinforce momentum
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At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
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