Definition
A retrospective is a regular meeting held by an agile team to reflect on a recent period of work, typically at the end of a sprint. The primary goal is to identify what went well, what could be improved, and what actions the team will take to make those improvements in the future. During a retrospective, team members openly discuss their experiences, challenges, and successes, fostering a collaborative problem-solving environment. This practice is crucial for continuous improvement, allowing teams to adapt their processes and enhance their effectiveness over time. For instance, a development team might realize during a retrospective that their code review process is too slow, leading them to implement a new tool or workflow. Sometimes confused with a lessons learned session, a retrospective is more forward-looking and focused on immediate actionable changes for the next iteration. This concept is frequently tested on the PMI-ACP and PMP exams, particularly within agile practice domains.