Learning Matrix
Description
The technique was described by Esther Derby and Diana Larsen in Agile Retrospectives (2006). Its strength lies in its simplicity: four quadrants, each with an intuitive visual symbol, which make it possible to gather different dimensions of the sprint experience in parallel without having to split the session into multiple activities.
The four quadrants
| ☺ — Happy | 😕 — Unhappy |
|---|---|
| What went well during the sprint. | What didn't work or caused frustration. |
| 💡 — Ideas | 🙏 — Appreciations |
| New ideas to try in the next sprint. | Appreciation and thanks for teammates. |
How to run the activity
- The facilitator divides the whiteboard into four quadrants and places each quadrant's symbol in the corresponding corner.
- Each team member is given colored sticky notes (one color per quadrant or a single color), and a time limit is set for individual writing (between 5 and 10 minutes).
- Each person writes down their ideas in silence and places them in the corresponding quadrant.
- The facilitator reads the notes aloud or groups them, inviting discussion of the most recurring or relevant points.
- The team prioritizes the ideas and improvement points to decide which actions to carry into the next sprint.
When to use it
- As an alternative to the Starfish when a simpler structure with only four categories is desired.
- When the team is new to retrospectives: the Learning matrix is easy to explain and to run.
- When the session is short on time and the facilitator needs to gather information across several dimensions efficiently.
Common mistake
Skipping the appreciations quadrant. The 🙏 quadrant is often the one that builds the most cohesion within the team, especially during difficult sprints. If the facilitator skips it "to save time," they lose the most motivating dimension of the activity. Teams whose members rarely express explicit appreciation for one another tend to benefit especially from this quadrant.
Resources
🔧 Diseñar una retrospectiva [Designing a retrospective, in Spanish]Template · Scrum Manager
References
- Derby, Esther; Larsen, Diana. (2006). Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great. Pragmatic Bookshelf.
See also
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