Retrospective Activity
Hot Air Balloon
Playful Futurespective Medium Popularity: 1
This activity:
- Promotes team reflection on both past achievements and future goals
- Helps teams recognize and discuss obstacles (sandbags) that hinder progress
- Enables team to plan for upcoming challenges and opportunities
Introduction
The Hot Air Balloon retrospective is a unique agile technique that combines reflection on past activities with forward-looking planning. Teams visualize their project as a hot air balloon, identifying elements that propel them forward (Hot Air), those that hold them back (Sandbags), potential obstacles (Storm Clouds), and positive future prospects (Sunny Skies). This metaphorical approach encourages open discussion and helps teams assess their current state while planning for future success.
Hot Air
Sandbags
Storm Clouds
Sunny Skies
For the specific activity, the facilitator could use these points to describe the process:
- The Hot Air column is for Elements that are driving the team forward and contributing to their success.
- The Sandbags column is for Factors that are holding the team back and making it difficult to deliver value.
- The Storm Clouds column is for Potential problems or obstacles that may arise in the future.
- The Sunny Skies column is for Positive things that the team can look forward to, highlighting opportunities and optimistic outcomes.
See how a retrospective works in Team O'clock
Tips & Tricks
Ensure that all team members are actively involved in the discussion to gather diverse perspectives.
Focus on identifying the most significant sandbags (hindrances) and hot air (supports) to prioritize actionable insights.
Frame the retrospective around the hot air balloon metaphor to help the team visualize their progress and challenges.
Conclude with clear action items based on the discussion to ensure that the team can address the identified issues in the next sprint.
Popularity: 1
The "Hot Air Balloon" activity is rarely used among Team O'clock teams. It seems that only a few teams use this activity for their retrospectives.
Recap
Hot Air Balloon
Playful Futurespective Medium
Hot Air
What helps us move forward
Sandbags
Things holding us back
Storm Clouds
Possible problems ahead
Sunny Skies
Things we look forward to
