DAKI Retrospective

What is the DAKI retrospective?

DAKI stands for Drop, Add, Keep, and Improve. It is an action-oriented retrospective format that turns reflection into clear decisions. Rather than only discussing what went well or badly, your team sorts each idea into one of four columns, and every column points to a concrete next step.

That structure is the whole point. Drop names what to stop. Add invites new ideas. Keep protects what is working. Improve sharpens what is nearly there. By the end of the session you have a short, agreed list of changes the team is ready to own.

When to use DAKI

DAKI works best when your team is ready to commit to change, not just talk about it. It is a strong choice when:

• Retrospectives have started to feel repetitive and little changes between sprints.
• You have just finished a project or phase and want to lock in the lessons.
• The same problems keep resurfacing and the team needs to make a call.
• You want a balanced session that celebrates strengths as well as fixing problems.

If the team is carrying tension or low morale, run a format like Mad Sad Glad first to clear the air, then use DAKI once people are ready to act.

The four DAKI columns

⛔️ Drop: which behaviours should we stop?

Name the practices, habits, or meetings that are no longer earning their place. These are the things quietly draining time or energy. Be specific: "drop the Friday status call" is something the team can act on, while "drop pointless meetings" is not.

🙌 Add: which new behaviours should we start?

Suggest new practices, tools, or experiments that could help the team. Frame each one with the benefit you expect, so the group can judge whether it is worth trying.

👍 Keep: what is working that we should protect?

Call out the practices that are clearly helping. Keep matters more than it looks: naming what works stops the team accidentally dropping a good habit during a busy sprint.

🚀 Improve: what is nearly there and could be better?

Pick the things that work but still have room to grow. These are often your easiest wins, because the foundation already exists and only needs tuning.

How to run a DAKI retrospective

1. Set the scene. Remind the team that DAKI is about decisions, and open with a quick mood check-in to read the room.
2. Brainstorm. Give everyone five to ten minutes to add cards to each column on their own. Put some icebreaker music on in the background to set the tone, and keep input anonymous so it stays honest and protects psychological safety.
3. Group and sort. Cluster similar cards together so the themes stand out.
4. Discuss and vote. Talk through the groups and vote on the changes that matter most.
5. Commit to actions. For the top items, assign an owner and a deadline.

A DAKI retro usually runs 45 to 60 minutes. Aim for two or three concrete actions, each with an owner and a date. A few changes the team actually makes will beat a long list that nobody owns.

DAKI tips and common mistakes

• Keep actions specific and few. Three changes you finish beat ten you forget.
• Do not skip Keep. Protecting what works is as valuable as fixing what does not.
• Watch the balance. If almost every card lands in Drop, the team may need a morale-focused retro first.

DAKI vs other retrospective formats

DAKI is closest to KALM (Keep, Add, Less, More) and Starfish. Choose DAKI when you want decisive Drop and Add commitments, and choose KALM or Starfish when gradual Less and More adjustments suit the team better. If DAKI feels like too much structure, Start Stop Continue is a simpler place to start.

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.