🍩 The Simpsons' Springfield Scrum
Welcome to Springfield! Let's unite like the Simpsons family to reflect on our sprint—spotting what helps us thrive, what causes chaos, and what keeps our agile story entertaining!
Template Columns
🚦 Marge's Smart Starts
Share ideas or practices we should start, inspired by Marge’s wisdom and stability.
Base column: Start🍩 Homer’s Donut Detours
Highlight things to stop doing—just like Homer dropping bad habits for family harmony.
Base column: Stop😃 Lisa’s Encore Efforts
Celebrate what we should continue, channeling Lisa’s drive for excellence and positivity.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
The Simpsons' Springfield Scrum retrospective uses playful, character-driven columns to spark insights on what the team should start, stop, and continue doing. It's ideal for teams seeking a fun, themed reflection to boost engagement and uncover valuable improvements.
When to use this template
This format is perfect when your team needs an energy boost, wants to shake up the routine, or is looking for a fun way to align on priorities. Use it after intense sprints or during times of change to lighten the mood while still focusing on actionable takeaways.
How to facilitate
Kick off with a warm welcome, introducing the Springfield theme to set a playful tone and encourage openness.
Review the three columns, explaining their character inspirations—Marge (smart starts), Homer (donut detours), Lisa (encore efforts).
Invite everyone to spend a few minutes adding thoughts to each column, aiming for specific examples from the last sprint.
Group discussion: read through each column, ask contributors to elaborate, and identify common threads or surprises.
Collaboratively prioritize key start, stop, and continue actions; make commitments as a team to try new ideas or drop unhelpful habits.
Capture agreed actions and assign owners, ensuring outcomes are documented and visible for the next sprint check-in.
Wrap up with a quick round of gratitude or a Springfield-themed appreciation to reinforce team spirit.
Pro Tips
Encourage team members to share not only problems but also quirky successes to fit the Springfield vibe.
Rotate column explanations—let different people introduce each character's perspective for extra engagement.
Use Simpsons GIFs or soundbites to maintain a light atmosphere, but keep discussions focused on actionable insights.
Remind the team that no suggestion is too small; incremental improvements often have big impact.
FAQ
How do I keep the Springfield theme from being distracting?
Balance fun with focus by using the theme as a springboard for discussion, not the main event. Rein in tangents gently and keep timeframes clear.
What if some team members aren’t familiar with The Simpsons?
Briefly explain the characters and their traits; the columns stand on their own even for those who haven't seen the show.
How do I get actionable items instead of just lighthearted comments?
Prompt for specific examples and root causes. After sharing, guide the group to identify clear next steps for each column.
At a glance
- Duration
35–50 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