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Criterion
A structured reflection surfaces what was liked, learned, lacked, and longed for. It is a conversation format and does not validate actions automatically.
Agile
4Ls Retrospective
Paper illustration: scenarios and architectural decisions are connected to identified risks.
Architecture
ATAM (Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method)
Paper illustration for Alignment Mapping.
Facilitation
Alignment Mapping
Paper illustration for Mad Sad Glad
Agile
Mad Sad Glad
Purposedifferent
When a sprint should not only be assessed but also learned from, it captures experience in clear learning categories. It records what worked, what's missing, and what should run differently next time.ATAM helps teams weigh architecture decisions when quality goals compete. The team considers business goals, stakeholder expectations, and technical decisions together. The evaluation shows which risks need further investigation.When several people work toward one goal but hold different mental maps, Alignment Mapping makes the discrepancies visible. It arranges goals, assumptions, and priorities so shared direction becomes verifiable.When a team's or workshop's mood needs to become readable, it structures emotional signals with little setup. It makes strain, relief, and sources of energy tangible.
Complexitydifferent
LowHighMediumLow
Timedifferent
45–75 minSeveral meetings plus preparation and analysis; total effort depends on scope1-2 h30-60 min
Participantsdifferent
Team members involvedEvaluation team, architects, and relevant stakeholders4-123-10
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
4Ls Board, Learning Themes, Improvement ActionsPrioritized quality scenarios in a utility tree, Architecture risks with reasoning and assumptions, Sensitivity and trade-off points, Findings report with open investigationsAlignment Map, Open Issues, Decision QuestionsEmotion Board, Themes, Action Items
Tagsno overlap
RetrospectiveLearningReflectionTeam
ArchitectureQualityRiskTradeoffsStakeholders
AlignmentStakeholdersStrategyFacilitation
RetrospectiveTeamReflection
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