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DAKI

DAKI retrospective is a technique that allows a team to assess the areas that it needs to work on while also adopting new methodologies in the way they function. DAKI is an abbreviation for: Drop, Add, Keep, and Improve. The 4 stages of DAKI are self-explanatory.
Drop
Add
Keep
Improve
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Introduction:

Working in teams means that each individual will have their own ideas concerning the project at hand. The idea behind creating a team is to compile all of those ideas and get the very best out of them. However, conflicts do arise and the strength of the team is determined by how they overcome them. Keeping a team on the same page requires communication, and the DAKI retrospective is a technique that helps teams assess and improve.

What is DAKI Retrospective?

DAKI retrospective is an abbreviation for Drop, Add, Keep, and Improve. It's a way for teams to assess the areas they need to work on and adopt new methodologies in the way they function. The four stages of DAKI create a democratic environment where the team’s future is determined by the team itself. It's a way of ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and the decisions taken reflect the needs of each member of the team.

Columns:

  1. Drop - Points towards dropping something that bothers the team members.
  2. Add - Adding newer things based on the team’s suggestions.
  3. Keep - Refers to the aspects that the team members like.
  4. Improve - Discusses the areas that they would like to see more work on.

Examples:

  • Drop: Too many stories in the sprint, Micromanaging
  • Add: More unit tests on the backend, Backlog cleanup, User testing for the new release
  • Keep: Team outings, Nice team performance
  • Improve: Website performance, Team organization

Facilitating DAKI Retrospective:

The traditional way of conducting DAKI retrospective takes around 30 minutes and can be done physically or with an online tool like QRetro. The steps are as follows:

  1. Team members decide which things they want to drop, add, and keep.
  2. Team members discuss and debate the most necessary changes from each category after discussion and voting.
  3. Changes are logged and implemented.

Online tools like QRetro hold DAKI through Retro sessions. The steps are as follows:

  1. Review of the previous Retro to remind team members of the changes decided.
  2. Brainstorming session to allow team members to note down their thoughts on the current situation.
  3. Merging and voting.
  4. Drawing up action items and thoroughly discussing them.
  5. Confirmed changes are logged and made available for the next Retro for review.

Conclusion:

DAKI retrospective is a technique that helps teams assess and improve. It creates a democratic environment where the team's future is determined by the team itself. The traditional way of conducting DAKI retrospective takes around 30 minutes, and an online tool like QRetro can also be used. The process involves deciding, discussing, and implementing changes in the team's functioning.

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