Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile Storytelling from the Trenches
Episode: The Solution-Focused Retrospective for Agile Teams, Turning Problems Into Goals | Zvonimir Durcevic
Host: Vasco Duarte
Guest: Tsvonimir Durcevic
Release Date: April 3, 2025
Introduction
In this insightful episode of the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast, host Vasco Duarte engages in a profound conversation with Tsvonimir Durcevic, an experienced Agile Coach and Certified Scrum Master. The discussion centers around leveraging solution-focused retrospectives to transform challenges into actionable goals, thereby enhancing team effectiveness and fostering a thriving Agile environment.
Favorite Agile Retrospective Format: The Solution-Focused Approach
[01:14 – 06:25]
Tsvonimir shares his preferred retrospective format, emphasizing the Solution-Focused Retrospective, also known as the Problem-Goals or Problems Are Disguised Goals method. Drawing inspiration from Ralph Miaka and Veronika Jungwirth's work, this approach encourages teams to acknowledge existing problems without dwelling excessively on them. Instead, the focus swiftly shifts to defining clear, achievable goals.
Key Steps in the Solution-Focused Retrospective:
-
Identify Problems:
- Teams list current issues on the left side of a vertically divided flip chart.
- Example Quote:
“You give the teams this ability, this opportunity to talk about things that are not going well.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [02:12]
-
Define Goals:
- On the right side, teams articulate what they desire instead of the identified problems.
- Example Quote:
“Please tell me what do you want instead? And then you write for each of these problem statements, they write what do they want differently.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [03:00]
-
Voting and Prioritization:
- Teams vote on the most critical goals to focus on, ensuring that actionable steps can be taken.
- Example Quote:
“Then we do the voting doting and just, you know, kind of see where do they want to focus.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [04:15]
-
Scaling and Progress Assessment:
- Teams rate their current progress towards each goal on a scale from 0 to 10, facilitating a discussion on incremental improvements.
- Example Quote:
“Just imagine you are one step further and you say, okay, so go one step further in the direction of 10.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [05:00]
-
Action Planning:
- Based on discussions, teams decide on small, manageable steps to move closer to their goals.
- Example Quote:
“Decide where do we want to start?”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [05:45]
Benefits Highlighted:
- Validates existing problems without entrenching the team in them.
- Encourages a forward-looking mindset by focusing on achievable goals.
- Enhances team collaboration and empowers members to take actionable steps.
Vasco Duarte complements Tsvonimir’s insights by emphasizing the importance of shifting towards future-oriented solutions, especially for non-technical challenges like communication or collaboration issues. This approach aligns with the principles of solution-focused coaching, fostering a constructive and proactive team dynamic.
Example Quote:
“We validate the problems. That's very important. But then we shift towards the future because there are some problems that we can't tackle by going deeper.”
— Vasco Duarte [07:10]
Defining Success as a Scrum Master
[08:11 – 12:36]
Vasco steers the conversation towards understanding what success means for a Scrum Master. Tsvonimir delineates success through the lens of team effectiveness, referencing Richard Hackman's model, which encompasses three core aspects:
-
Team Output and Outcomes:
- Delivering quality products that meet customer needs in both quantity and quality.
- Example Quote:
“Team is effective when it's creating outputs, outcomes that the customers need in the quality and the quantity that they need.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [08:45]
-
Team Growth and Capability Building:
- Enhancing the team’s collaborative skills and their ability to deliver future projects.
- Example Quote:
“Helping the team grow in the collaboration and in the capability to deliver in the future.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [09:15]
-
Individual Development:
- Ensuring team members are satisfied with their work and have opportunities for personal growth.
- Example Quote:
“Individual development of team members. They need to be well satisfied with the work in the team with their own opportunities to develop and grow.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [09:45]
Tsvonimir emphasizes the balance between these aspects to prevent team burnout, highlighting the common pitfall of achieving high output at the expense of team well-being.
Example Quote:
“A team can be very successful, deliver a lot, everybody happy and then teams burn out. That is not.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [10:21]
Strategies to Achieve Team Effectiveness
[10:27 – 12:36]
To support teams in achieving the outlined effectiveness, Tsvonimir suggests several strategies:
-
Creating Feedback Structures:
- Facilitating regular feedback from customers and stakeholders to align team output with organizational purpose.
-
Enhancing Communication Skills:
- Fostering better communication within the team to improve collaboration and problem-solving.
-
Building Technical and Adaptive Capabilities:
- Encouraging continuous learning and adaptation to stay ahead in a dynamic market landscape.
Example Quote:
“Creating structures where the team will get feedback from the customers and the stakeholders so that the team can get this external view on how they are creating and fulfilling the purpose...”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [11:00]
Vasco acknowledges the importance of Richard Hackman's team effectiveness model and encourages listeners to explore it further, ensuring that Scrum Masters have a robust framework to measure and enhance their teams' performance.
Example Quote:
“We'll put the link in the show notes to Richard Hackman's model of team effectiveness. He also has a great book, so be sure to check it out.”
— Vasco Duarte [12:36]
Conclusion
The episode provides a comprehensive exploration of the Solution-Focused Retrospective and its pivotal role in transforming team challenges into strategic goals. Tsvonimir Durcevic offers actionable insights into fostering team effectiveness through balanced focus on output, growth, and individual development. Hosts Vasco Duarte and Tsvonimir underscore the significance of intentional and structured retrospectives in building resilient and high-performing Agile teams.
Listeners are encouraged to adopt these practices to not only enhance their teams' productivity but also ensure sustainable growth and satisfaction among team members, ultimately defining true success as a Scrum Master.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
-
“You give the teams this ability, this opportunity to talk about things that are not going well.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [02:12] -
“Then we do the voting doting and just, you know, kind of see where do they want to focus.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [04:15] -
“We validate the problems. That's very important. But then we shift towards the future because there are some problems that we can't tackle by going deeper.”
— Vasco Duarte [07:10] -
“Team is effective when it's creating outputs, outcomes that the customers need in the quality and the quantity that they need.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [08:45] -
“A team can be very successful, deliver a lot, everybody happy and then teams burn out. That is not.”
— Tsvonimir Durcevic [10:21]
Additional Resources
- Richard Hackman's Model of Team Effectiveness: [Link in Show Notes]
- Recommended Reading: Management 3.0 by Jurgen Apello
This episode serves as an invaluable resource for Scrum Masters seeking to refine their retrospective techniques and cultivate highly effective Agile teams. By embracing solution-focused methodologies and holistic team effectiveness models, Agile practitioners can drive meaningful and sustainable success within their organizations.