Retree

Retro template

Plus, Delta

2 lanes and no ceremony. Write what produced value, then the change the team will make next time.

Start a Plus, Delta retroAll templates

Plus

What worked?

  • Splitting the migration into 3 pull requests
  • On-call handover doc kept the Friday page short

Delta

What should change?

  • Start the release Wednesday morning, not Friday afternoon
  • Write the test plan in the ticket first
  • 2 lanesPrefilled the moment you start.
  • Writing timer 5 minSuggested for the preparation stage.
  • Best forShort sprint retros with little to unpack.
  • OriginAn end of session review used in training and lean practice.

How it runs

  1. Preparation

    Cards stay hidden while everyone writes. Set the timer to 5 minutes.

  2. Grouping

    Reveal and merge the duplicate deltas. Rename each group as the change.

  3. Voting

    Everyone has 3 votes for the changes they will help carry out.

  4. Discussion

    Turn each delta into an action item with one owner and date.

  5. Finished

    Copy summary puts the recap and its action items on your clipboard.

Column by column

  • Plus

    What worked?

    What produced value this sprint and should survive into the next one. Name the practice and what it bought.

    • Splitting the migration into 3 pull requests
    • On-call handover doc kept the Friday page short

  • Delta

    What should change?

    The change you want, written as the change. Start with a verb and describe the new behavior.

    • Start the release Wednesday morning, not Friday afternoon
    • Write the test plan in the ticket first

Best for

  • Short sprint retros with little to unpack.
  • The last 10 minutes of a workshop or release.
  • A first retro with a group that has never run one.
  • Incident reviews once the facts are settled.

Pick another template when

Tips

  • Write deltas as instructions: "review pull requests before lunch" rather than "reviews are slow".
  • Keep the pluses. A board of only deltas says nothing is good enough.
  • Commit to 2 or 3 deltas. The rest can come back next time.

Questions

  • What does delta mean in a retrospective?

    Delta is shorthand for change. A delta card is the change the team proposes, not the problem that prompted it.

  • How long does a Plus, Delta retro take?

    15 to 25 minutes for a team of 5 to 8, including action items. It fits at the end of a meeting you already have.

  • Is 2 lanes enough for a sprint retro?

    For a team that talks openly and meets often, yes. If the sprint was hard, a board with more prompts will surface more.

  • Is this template free on Retree?

    Yes. Every template is free with no account and no paywall, and tips and sponsors pay for Retree.

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