Are you an IT Professional, You should know what is an Agile Retrospective?

what is an agile retrospective
what is an agile retrospective

The Agile Methodology functions in alignment with 12 principles. The last one urges every team to retrospect/review its performance at regular intervals. We refer to this practice as agile retrospective or sprint retrospective. It helps the team to strive for behavioural betterment and increasing efficiency. However, every team requires someone at the helm of affairs. In this case, it is the Scrum Master. below in this article, we will cover the What is an Agile Retrospective.

Now, as an IT professional, you may be keen to learn more about agile retrospective and the scrum master’s role. Well, you can do so by signing up for a certification course related to the same. We call it a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) course. Several institutes offer CSM training, and many of them are trustworthy too. However, Simplilearn has well-qualified and experienced experts handling the training program. Maybe, you should browse through and find out for yourself.

Role of the Scrum Master

Whenever a project/process ends, the software development team holds a meeting. A scrum master takes up the role of facilitator for this gathering. He/she is experienced at chairing key meetings and enforcing Scrum’s rules.

Unlike the traditional project leader, the scrum master possesses people skills. This person comprehends the role and responsibilities of every team member. Therefore, he/she ensures that there is good bonding between the members of the team. For instance, the review may highlight the mistakes committed by specific team members. Regardless, the scrum master encourages everyone to believe that each team member did his/her job to the best of his/her abilities. Everybody did what he/she could with the available knowledge and resources in the existing circumstances. Therefore, insensitive criticism should not make an appearance at the meeting. 

The team leader and members trust the scrum master to offer solutions for eliminating difficulties that hinder the achievement of project goals. During the retrospective meeting, he/she brings specific tools/techniques/exercises into play. Different tools display themselves following the concerned situation. The idea is to produce beneficial results. Thus, the scrum master encourages everybody to view each process/project as an educational journey for continual improvement.

The Agile Retrospective Meeting

The project leader and the whole team must attend the retrospective meeting. The meeting begins with a perusal of the minutes of the previous retrospective meeting. They list the actions to be undertaken prior to the next meeting. All the actions could have reached successful conclusions. Alternatively, the team may have left some of the suggestions untouched. Therefore, the scrum master initiates a discussion on these unfinished tasks. Should the team strive to complete them or discard them because they serve no purpose in the present scenario?

Next, the team dissects its start-to-end performance in the new project. The members identify errors and successes along the way. They even discuss iterations (executing a sequential set of instructions/structures repeatedly or until you obtain a specific result). Have they been successful, or should modifications/improvements come into play? The improvements, if any, are small, but regular. Team members put them into practice immediately, albeit in a controlled manner. Sometimes, personal stories prove to be useful guides for others. Thus, the work culture becomes better and better.

Benefits of an Agile Retrospective Meeting

It would not be very smart to repeat the same actions and expect different outcomes each time. In other words, no team can afford to commit the same errors repeatedly. If a particular way of working is not providing the desired results, it is time for a change. Different action plans have to come into play. It is why retrospective meetings are so important. 

Since the whole team is involved in the discussion and analysis of actions, it feels empowered. Therefore, every member develops team spirit and does not resist change. 

Retrospective meetings demonstrate the importance of maintaining stability in a team. The members are eager to learn and succeed. They acquire a competitive spirit too. Thanks to scrum and scrum masters, an organization finds it easy to achieve organizational goals!

Certification for Scrum

The Scrum Alliance promotes this certification. The training program aims to provide a deeper understanding of scrum methodologies. It also suggests ways to implement them. Therefore, if you have decided to join the scrum crowd, here is what you should know. 

Eligibility

The course does not restrict anyone from applying. The applicant may be an IT professional who is keen to become a scrum master. Similarly, entire teams, who are planning to transition to Scrum, may sign up for the course. Other eligible people include managers, as well as team members of scrum teams.

Examination

The credential is an entry-level one. The Scrum Alliance dictates that you must pass an exam at the end of the course if you desire certification. The examination is an online one, with the questionnaire framed in the multiple-choice format. You will have to go through 50 questions within an hour. You must ensure that you get at least 37 or more answers correct, for the passing percentage is 75%.

Certification

After clearing the exam, you will gain a CSM certificate. However, you will also need to sign a Scrum Alliance’s license agreement. After it confirms it, complete your membership profile on its website. 

After acquiring this necessary certification, you may go in for advanced credentials. This should serve to keep your learning journey active throughout your ‘scrum’ career. There are several of them. Just enquire about your training institute. 

Qualities

What kind of personality should the scrum master possess?

To begin with, you must be an excellent communicator. This means that you must be able to talk with focus, as well as listen attentively. This will happen only when you refuse to see ‘badness’ in anyone. You appreciate each team member’s efforts, regardless of results. Your expressions and actions are entirely neutral/objective. 

Then again, you are not a dictatorial leader, but a directional one. You guide thought processes gently, such that the team appears to resolve key issues and make decisions on its own.

Finally, you are a responsible problem solver who can multi-task too.