Three Little Pigs Retrospective Template
The Three Little Pigs Retrospective template is a creative framework designed for agile coaches, facilitators, and managers to evaluate the stability of their team’s processes, tools, and cultural norms. By using the classic fable as a metaphor, this workshop helps teams identify what is flimsy, what is shaky, but improving, and what is rock-solid.
What is the Three Little Pigs Retrospective?
This template serves as a diagnostic tool for leadership and agile teams to assess their "foundational" stability. Much like the houses in the fable, team workflows are categorized into three distinct levels of maturity:
House of Straw: Processes that are barely holding together and could fail at any moment.
House of Sticks: Systems that are functional but lack the resilience to withstand major pressure.
House of Bricks: Rock-solid habits and tools that drive consistent success.
What Problem Does This Retrospective Template Solve?
Workshop facilitators and consultants often struggle with "retrospective fatigue." This template solves that by providing a high-energy, visual way to surface technical and process-based debt. It empowers leaders to move beyond surface-level complaints and perform a deep-dive analysis of what needs protection, elimination, or renovation to ensure long-term team scalability.
How to Use the Three Little Pigs Retrospective
Designed for a 50–90 minute session, facilitators can guide their teams through these four structured steps:
Inventory: Silently brainstorm all current processes and tools.
Evaluating and Categorizing: Drag items into the House of Straw, Sticks, or Bricks.
Discussion: Identify patterns and debate which items require immediate experiments or protection.
Solidifying Next Steps: Create a concrete, accountable plan for the next iteration.
Three Little Pigs Retrospective FAQs
Who is this template for? It is ideal for teams experiencing growing pains or those looking to refine their workflows.
How long does the session take? Usually 50–60 minutes depending on team size.
What are the key outcomes? A clear, prioritized list of action items with assigned leads and deadlines to improve team foundations.
