Post-Project Review: Lessons Learned & Retrospective
At the end of each major project phase, we conduct a structured retrospective with you. This is one of the most valuable activities in the engagement — and often one of the most neglected.
What Is a Retrospective?
A retrospective is a structured session where the project team (including you and your stakeholders) reflects on the work that was done:
- What went well?
- What could have gone better?
- What will we do differently next time?
It is a blame-free process. The goal is improvement, not criticism.
Format
Retrospectives are typically 60–90 minutes. We use a structured format (e.g. Start/Stop/Continue, or 4Ls: Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed For) to ensure structured, productive discussion. The output is a written summary of action points.
Why They Matter
- For you: You get a structured report identifying what worked and what improvements will be made in the next phase — useful for internal reporting and board-level communication
- For us: We improve our processes and service delivery based on real feedback
- For the relationship: Honest retrospectives build trust and set a positive tone for future work
Lessons Learned Document
Following the retrospective, we produce a Lessons Learned document that is shared with both parties and stored in the project record. For clients with ongoing engagements, this feeds directly into the planning of the next phase.