🧟🚀🌠 Space Zombie Outpost
Brace for an interstellar undead outbreak! In this retro, we’ll scan for alien threats, fortify our ship, and keep the mission alive. Share what fuels our survival and what drags us into the void.
Template Columns
🚀🧟♂️ Initiate Zombie Defenses
Identify fresh actions to begin defending our project from the undead cosmos.
Base column: Start🛑🧟♀️ Halt the Zombie Breach
Stop practices that let the space zombies creep in.
Base column: Stop🌟🛡️ Keep the Cosmic Shield Up
Continue the strategies that keep our mission safe from the undead.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
A sci‑fi themed retro that helps teams spot emerging risks, eliminate harmful habits, and double‑down on what’s keeping the project alive.
When to use this template
Best for teams feeling overwhelmed by recurring blockers or when a fresh, engaging format is needed to re‑energize retrospectives.
How to facilitate
Begin by briefly describing the Space Zombie Outpost story and how each column represents a type of defense against project decay.
Ask participants to silently write down items for the Initiate Zombie Defenses column that represent new actions or experiments to protect the work.
Collect the ideas, display them on the board, and let the group clarify any unclear entries.
Repeat the same process for Halt the Zombie Breach, gathering practices that are allowing problems to slip through.
Then move to Keep the Cosmic Shield Up, capturing the behaviours and processes that are already working well.
Facilitate a quick dot‑vote to prioritize the top two items from each column, turn them into SMART action items, and assign owners before ending.
Pro Tips
Set a timer of 5 minutes per column to keep momentum and prevent over‑analysis.
Encourage participants to use zombie‑themed language for fun, but remind them to translate ideas into concrete, actionable statements.
Limit each person to three votes total during prioritization to force focus on the most critical actions.
FAQ
What if the zombie metaphor feels silly or distracting?
Explain that the theme is just a framing tool; focus on the underlying issues and encourage participants to translate their thoughts into concrete items.
How do we handle a large team that exceeds the ideal size?
Split the group into smaller breakout rooms, each tackling one column, then reconvene to share the consolidated lists.
What if we can’t agree on priorities?
Use a simple voting method like dot voting or a quick poll, and if ties remain, discuss impact and effort to decide the final actions.
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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