The WRAP retrospective is a different from the regular retrospective formats. It is designed to drive actionable insights and continuous improvement. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Wishes: Team members share aspirations for future sprints, identifying desired outcomes and improvements.
• Risks: Highlight potential obstacles and threats that could hinder progress, facilitating proactive risk management.
• Appreciation: Recognize and celebrate successes and positive contributions, boosting team morale and reinforcing good practices.
• Puzzles: Discuss uncertainties or confusing aspects that need clarification, ensuring the team resolves ambiguities.

Use WRAP to foster a balanced, forward-looking reflection, blending recognition with practical problem-solving. This can be an impactful retrospective, but requires a bit more investment and effort from the team than a more straightforward format like a good/bad/start/stop retrospective.

The WRAP sections in detail

Wishes

What it is: The “Wishes” section allows team members to voice their aspirations for future sprints. Think of it as the dream board for your project’s next phase.

Why it matters: Encouraging the team to express their desires fosters forward-thinking and innovation. It’s a space for envisioning new features, improved processes, or even enhancing team dynamics. Wishes help set a positive and ambitious direction for continuous improvement.

Risks

What it is: This segment focuses on identifying potential risks and challenges that could impede progress. It’s about acknowledging what could go wrong before it does.

Why it matters: Proactively recognizing risks helps the team to prepare and mitigate issues in advance. It promotes a proactive mindset, ensuring that potential problems are addressed before they escalate, thus safeguarding the project’s success.

Appreciation

What it is: The “Appreciation” section is all about recognizing and celebrating the positives. Team members give shout-outs and kudos for achievements, big or small.

Why it matters: Highlighting appreciation boosts morale and reinforces positive behavior. It helps build a supportive team culture where members feel valued and motivated. Celebrating successes, no matter how small, fosters a positive and collaborative environment.

Puzzles

What it is: In the “Puzzles” section, team members bring up any uncertainties or confusing aspects they encountered. These are the questions and ambiguities that need addressing.

Why it matters: Identifying puzzles helps to clarify misunderstandings and provides a chance to seek solutions collaboratively. It’s about transforming confusion into clarity, ensuring everyone is on the same page and moving forward with confidence.