ROTI Retrospective (Return on Time Invested)
The only format here that retros the retro — evaluate the ritual itself instead of the sprint.
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The board
01
WORTH IT
What made this retro worth the time?
02
NOT WORTH IT
What wasted time in this retro?
03
CHANGE NEXT TIME
What should we do differently next retro?
ROTI — Return on Time Invested — was originally a one-question, end-of-meeting rating: on a scale of 1 to 5, was this worth your time? Retromik's version keeps the spirit but trades the numeric scale for cards, because a number tells you the retro underperformed without telling you why.
This is the one template in the catalog that isn't about the sprint at all — it's about the retro practice itself. Every other format asks the team to reflect on their work; ROTI asks them to reflect on whether the reflecting is working. It's meant to be run occasionally, not every sprint, as a maintenance check on a ritual that's easy to let go stale.
When to use Worth It · Not Worth It · Change
- Quarterly, as a maintenance check on the retro ritual itself rather than the sprint
- After changing facilitators, format, or cadence, to see if the change actually landed
- When attendance or participation in regular retros has been quietly dropping
- When leadership questions whether retros are worth the time — run this to get evidence instead of opinions
How to run it in Retromik
- 1
Create cards anonymously
Everyone adds cards to each column at the same time. In Retromik, cards stay concealed and anonymous while people write, so nobody anchors on the loudest voice.
- 2
Vote on what matters
Each person places a limited set of voting tokens on the cards they think deserve discussion. Limited tokens force real prioritization.
- 3
Discuss the top cards
Walk through the highest-voted cards one by one. The facilitator steers the focus; anyone can comment on any card.
- 4
Reveal and group themes
Authors are revealed and the facilitator drags related cards into named themes, turning scattered notes into patterns.
- 5
Commit to action items
Convert the discussion into specific, owned action items with due dates — the part most retrospectives skip.
Frequently asked questions
What does ROTI stand for?
Return on Time Invested. It originated as a simple 1-5 rating asked at the end of any meeting. Retromik's version turns it into a full retro — cards instead of a single number — so the team can explain the rating, not just give one.
How is ROTI different from a normal retrospective?
A normal retrospective reflects on the sprint's work. ROTI reflects on the retrospective practice itself — whether the meeting format, length, and facilitation are actually delivering value, or have become a ritual nobody questions.
How often should you run a ROTI retro?
Occasionally, not every sprint — quarterly is common. Running it too often turns 'evaluate the ritual' into its own stale ritual, which defeats the purpose.
Do participants need to stay anonymous for honest ROTI feedback?
It helps considerably. 'This retro wastes time' is much easier to write as an anonymous card than to say out loud to the facilitator directly. Retromik keeps cards concealed until a deliberate reveal, which is what makes candid feedback about the meeting itself realistic.
Related templates
Open Agenda
The only single-column format here — no categories, just an open, priority-ordered agenda the group builds together.
ViewStrengths · Risks · Learnings
A balanced sprint review that looks backward and forward at once — Retromik's signature format.
ViewMuda · Mura · Muri
Toyota's lean lens for sprint retros — hunt waste, unevenness, and overload instead of vague complaints.
ViewRun your next retro with Worth It · Not Worth It · Change
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