DAKI Retrospective

DAKI Retrospective

DAKI stands for Drop, Add, Keep, and Improve, presenting teams with a clear and structured approach to retrospectives. This format encourages teams to critically assess their practices, ensuring that they continually evolve in their agile journey.

When to Choose DAKI

DAKI is particularly effective for teams that want to take a holistic view of their processes. It's ideal for those sessions where you want to not only identify areas of improvement but also recognize and build upon existing strengths. If your team is keen on actionable insights with a balanced perspective, DAKI is a reliable choice.

⛔️ Drop

Which behaviours or actions would we do well to stop?

Identify the practices or habits that might be holding the team back. It's about recognizing what's not adding value and considering its removal.

🙌 Add

Which behaviours or actions would we start?

Discuss new strategies, tools, or practices that could enhance the team's performance and productivity.

👍 Keep

Which behaviours or actions are we nailing and should keep?

Highlight the practices that are working well. It's an opportunity to acknowledge the team's strengths and commit to maintaining them.

🚀 Improve

Which behaviours or actions can we be doing better?

While some practices are good, they can always be better. This section is about recognizing those areas and brainstorming ways to elevate them.

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The DAKI retrospective format ensures that teams have a comprehensive view of their performance, fostering both growth and consistency in their practices.

Start a DAKI Retro View all retro templates

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DAKI retrospective template?

The DAKI retrospective template (Drop, Add, Keep, Improve) is an action-oriented retrospective format that helps teams make clear decisions about their working practices. Unlike reflection-focused formats, DAKI pushes teams to commit to specific changes by categorizing feedback into four actionable buckets, making it ideal for teams that want concrete outcomes from every retrospective session.

When should you use the DAKI retrospective template?

Use the DAKI template when your team needs to make decisive changes to processes or practices. It's particularly effective after completing a project phase, when you notice recurring issues that need addressing, or when your team feels stuck doing retrospectives that don't lead to action. DAKI works best for teams ready to commit to change rather than just discuss problems.

How do you run a DAKI retrospective meeting effectively?

To run an effective DAKI retrospective, follow these steps:

• Set the stage - Use a mood check-in to gauge team sentiment before starting
• Brainstorm - Give 5-10 minutes for individual brainstorming with icebreaker music. Team members add items to Drop, Add, Keep, and Improve columns anonymously for psychological safety
• Group and sort - Group and sort similar items together
• Discuss and vote - Review grouped items and vote to prioritize the most important changes
• Create action items - For top-voted items, assign owners and set deadlines. Be specific: "Drop daily standups" is actionable, while "Drop bad meetings" is too vague
• Share summary - Export and share the retro summary with the team for documentation and follow-up

The session typically takes 60-75 minutes as decisions require deeper discussion. Focus on creating 2-3 concrete action items per category.

What makes a good DAKI retrospective discussion?

Good DAKI discussions focus on specific, actionable changes rather than vague complaints:

• Drop - Identify concrete practices to eliminate with clear reasoning
• Add - Propose specific new practices with expected benefits
• Keep - Celebrate what's working and commit to maintaining it
• Improve - Suggest measurable enhancements to existing practices

The key is moving from "we should do better" to "we will do X by Y date with Z person responsible."

How is DAKI different from other retrospective formats?

DAKI is uniquely action-oriented compared to other formats. While Four Ls focuses on learning and Mad Sad Glad addresses emotions, DAKI demands concrete decisions. The four categories create clear action paths - Drop eliminates waste, Add introduces innovation, Keep reinforces strengths, and Improve optimizes existing practices. This structure makes DAKI particularly effective for teams struggling to convert retrospective insights into actual change.

What are the benefits of using the DAKI retrospective template?

The DAKI template offers several key benefits:

• Clear decision-making - Each category demands specific actions
• Balanced perspective - Addresses both problems and strengths
• Actionable outcomes - Every discussion leads to commitments
• Easy prioritization - Four categories help organize complex feedback

DAKI also creates accountability by forcing teams to decide what to stop doing, not just what to start, making resource allocation more realistic.

What are some alternatives to the DAKI retrospective template?

If you're looking for different retrospective formats and templates, consider these alternatives:

• KALM retrospective - When you want gradual Less and More adjustments instead of DAKI's decisive Drop and Add commitments
• Starfish retrospective - When teams need more nuanced gradations (More of, Less of) rather than binary Drop and Keep decisions
• Start Stop Continue - When DAKI feels too complex and you need faster, simpler decisions
• Mad Sad Glad - When emotional blockers prevent action and you need to address team morale first

Each format serves different scenarios beyond pure action-orientation.