DAKI Template

What is DAKI?

The DAKI retrospective—short for Drop, Add, Keep, Improve—is a structured way to help teams evaluate their current processes and practices. This format supports meaningful change by identifying what’s no longer serving the team, what could be introduced, what’s working well, and what could be made better.

How to use DAKI in TeamRetro

1. Access the Template:

   • Navigate to your Team dashboard.

     

   • Click on "START A RETROSPECTIVE" or navigate to the "RETROSPECTIVES" tab to start a new retrospective.

     

     
     

   • Select "Drop Add Keep Improve" from the list of STANDARD templates.

     

     
     
2. Set the Meeting Context:

   • Define the purpose or theme of the session to guide topic suggestions.

     

ICEBREAKER

• Set a warm and welcoming tone with a light activity or fun question.
• Use this moment to help participants feel comfortable and ready to engage.
• Examples: “What’s one small win you had this week?” or “If our last sprint was a weather pattern, what would it be?”

WELCOME

• Introduce the purpose of the session and highlight the value of open, constructive, feedback.
• Share the retrospective structure and any key topics or themes you’d like the team to focus on.
• Remind everyone of the format, time expectations, and participation roles.

OPEN ACTIONS

• Quickly review any action items from the previous retrospective.
• Discuss what’s been completed, what’s still in progress, and anything that needs to be carried forward.
• This helps create accountability and sets the stage for a productive session.

BRAINSTORM

• Drop – Things that are no longer useful or effective and should be stopped.
• Add – New ideas, tools, or processes the team would benefit from introducing.
• Keep – Practices, habits, or tools that are working well and should be retained.

• Improve – Existing activities that have potential but need adjustment.

  
  

  

GROUP

• Group similar items together to identify common themes and streamline the conversation.
• Use TeamRetro’s AI grouping tool or group ideas manually by dragging and dropping.

VOTE

• Have participants vote on the most relevant or impactful items across categories.
• Set a vote limit to help prioritize discussion.

• The most-voted items automatically appear at the top.

DISCUSS

• Begin discussions with the most-voted ideas.
• Facilitate open dialogue: Why should this be dropped? What impact would adding something new have?
• Acknowledge what's working while exploring areas for change.
• Use the Park feature to hold items for later review.

• Capture Action Items using manual entry or via AI-generated suggestions.

REVIEW

• Convert key insights into actionable steps.
• Assign responsibilities and due dates.

• Document any team agreements or decisions made.

CLOSE

• Summarize Key Takeaways: Recap the main points discussed with AI summaries and the agreed-upon actions.​
• Express Gratitude: Thank the team for their openness and participation.​
• Plan Next Steps: Schedule the next retrospective and encourage continuous reflection.

• Download and Share Reports: with any absent users or interested stakeholders for a quick summary.