Date: Friday, March 21, 2025

1. Introduction

The Sprint 4 Retrospective centered on reflecting how the team’s collaboration, workflow efficiency, and project management evolved during the final sprint. Special attention was given to improvements in cross-functional communication, feedback loops, demo effectiveness, and team structure considerations, aiming to provide actionable insights for Phase Two.

2. What Went Well

• Improved Cross-Functional Collaboration: Significant strides made in collaboration between design, research, and PM teams, with smoother communication across functional lines.
• Well-Received Demo Structure: The revised demo flow was praised by both the team and the client, leading to positive client reactions.
• Recognition of Contributions: Team members frequently praised each other—particularly Phillip and Oana—for their research contributions and collaborative spirit, highlighted during the "U-Rock" award ceremony.
• Increased Agile Awareness: Stronger adherence to agile principles and trust-building were evident across the team.
• Positive Team Morale: The team's camaraderie and mutual support, particularly acknowledging contributions during times of illness or stress, boosted morale.
• Networking & Yearbook Initiative: Spencer’s idea for a LinkedIn yearbook activity aimed at leaving a professional legacy was well-received.

3. What Didn’t Go Well

• Documentation & Workflow Representation: Gaps in how tasks and workflows were documented led to skewed workload visibility especially in PM KPIs and team cross-functional contributions.
• Communication Challenges: Identified need for more structured frequent cross-functional team meetings to avoid silos.
• Uncertainty Around New Team Structure: Discussions surfaced concerns around the potential removal of lead/apprentice roles and adoption of a more fluid team structure.
• Apprehension in Presentation: Rachel and Spencer explained that a sensitive presentation question was removed due to concern over recording, suggesting the need for improved comfort and preparation.

4. Action Items