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Criterion
Paper illustration of a Polarity Map with two poles and four quadrants
Systems Thinking
Polarity Mapping
Paper illustration of a team retrospective with three separate Start, Stop, and Continue areas and a shared action list.
Agile
Start Stop Continue
Paper illustration for Mad Sad Glad
Agile
Mad Sad Glad
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
Purposedifferent
Polarity Mapping makes tensions between two opposing poles tangible, such as standardization and adaptation or control and autonomy. The method guards against making apparent either-or decisions prematurely.When a team wants to deliberately adjust its working behavior, it makes habits visible and assessable. It focuses on concrete changes instead of diffuse mood.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.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.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowLowLow
Timedifferent
1-2 h30-60 min30-60 min45–75 min
Participantsdifferent
3-123-123-10Team members involved
Formatsame
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshopWorkshop
Outputdifferent
Polarity Map, Warning Signs, Balance ActionsStart Stop Continue Board, Improvement ActionsEmotion Board, Themes, Action Items4Ls Board, Learning Themes, Improvement Actions
Tagsno overlap
Systems thinkingTradeoffsLeadership
RetrospectiveImprovementTeamReflection
RetrospectiveTeamReflection
RetrospectiveLearningReflectionTeam
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