first time user
boz
was my first tryout of the sheets, so here's a few things I
noticed....
1) Everyone gave it thumbs-up as a tool for improving dialog :)
2) The plotter printed the sheet with extra space around the outside.
I explained that notes were "meant" to be written in the middle of the
sheet. At first they were, but people migrated to writing the notes
outside the margins. They said it was so they could group the notes to
the items (numbered steps around the board) more easily. ... I'll try
a larger sheet with no extra borders next time. (It might also be
interesting to make the sheet with only the final list of 3 TODOs in
the middle and the rest around the outside. Maybe like a wheel with
spokes.)
3) Nobody knew what to do with the zig-zag line in the middle. We
assumed it was for "ups and downs" during the sprint but still didn't
know what to do with it.
4) The main 'facilitating' I did was clear the desk, get pens,
describe what little I knew of the sheet's intention, point to the
parts to read, say 'go', remind team to write things down, ask team
occasionally if they thought they were on track.
5) A "manager-type" took notes along the way which were used verbatim
as the "things to do". Everyone seemed OK with this. That didn't seem
to big a deal to me this time. The format was loose because the
project is in a funding lull and nobody can really do much but create
a list of things to do when the funding kicks in. In a regular
retrospective I might ask that no notes be taken other than on the
sheet until the meeting is over.
Thanks for the tool. Hope this feedback is useful.
,chris
allan kelly
> 1) Everyone gave it thumbs-up as a tool for improving dialog :)
Excellent!
One of the reasons I created several versions of the sheets is to add
variety.
> 2) The plotter printed the sheet with extra space around the outside.
> I explained that notes were "meant" to be written in the middle of the
> sheet. At first they were, but people migrated to writing the notes
> outside the margins. They said it was so they could group the notes to
> the items (numbered steps around the board) more easily. ... I'll try
> a larger sheet with no extra borders next time. (It might also be
> interesting to make the sheet with only the final list of 3 TODOs in
> the middle and the rest around the outside. Maybe like a wheel with
> spokes.)
Yes I've seen this before.
Some groups don't write many notes, others go to town and write on every
scape of space.
> 3) Nobody knew what to do with the zig-zag line in the middle. We
> assumed it was for "ups and downs" during the sprint but still didn't
> know what to do with it.
Its for the timeline. Perhaps I need to make it clearer.
Sorry about that.
> 4) The main 'facilitating' I did was clear the desk, get pens,
> describe what little I knew of the sheet's intention, point to the
> parts to read, say 'go', remind team to write things down, ask team
> occasionally if they thought they were on track.
Brilliant, having done a sheet once they can probably do it again
without even that.
> 5) A "manager-type" took notes along the way which were used verbatim
> as the "things to do". Everyone seemed OK with this. That didn't seem
> to big a deal to me this time. The format was loose because the
> project is in a funding lull and nobody can really do much but create
> a list of things to do when the funding kicks in. In a regular
> retrospective I might ask that no notes be taken other than on the
> sheet until the meeting is over.
This is new. I know the presence of a manager in a retrospective
generally can be a double-edged sword - it can inhibit people but it can
also allow the manager to hear what people think.
I would be concerned if the taking of additional notes inhibits people
from speaking freely or stops the manager from taking part.
I wonder if this manager does this in normal retrospectives?
> Thanks for the tool. Hope this feedback is useful.
My pleasure, feedback is very useful
Thanks again
allan
--
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allan kelly +44 773 310 7131 http://www.allankelly.net
My books:
* NEW Business Patterns for Software Developers tinyurl.com/6vypfxa
Changing Software Development: Learning to be Agile tinyurl.com/6lq8fwc
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