Improve Collaboratively, Evolve Experimentally

Correct Answer: Run small-scale experiments with measurable outcomes to validate improvements

In Disciplined Agile's 'Improve Collaboratively' mindset, running small-scale experiments with measurable outcomes is the most effective approach because: - It allows teams to validate improvements through actual data and results - It minimizes risk by starting small - It enables quick feedback and learning - It promotes empirical process control The other options are problematic because: - Implementing large-scale organizational changes based on industry practices is risky and may not fit the specific context - Creating extensive documentation and plans for multiple iterations goes against agile principles of responding to change and keeping things simple - Mandating practices across the organization based on other teams' experiences doesn't account for team-specific contexts and removes autonomy, which contradicts DA principles of context-sensitive choices

Correct Answer: 2-3 iterations to gather meaningful data and assess impact

According to Disciplined Agile's 'Evolve Experimentally' mindset, 2-3 iterations is the optimal timeframe for evaluating process improvements. This timeframe is ideal because: - It provides sufficient time to collect meaningful data - It allows the team to adapt to the change - It's long enough to observe patterns but short enough to stay agile - It balances the need for adequate evaluation with maintaining momentum The other options are less effective because: - A single iteration is too brief to gather meaningful data or observe real impact - 4 iterations is unnecessarily long and delays potential course corrections - 5-6 iterations extends the experiment too long, reducing agility and responsiveness to change The recommended 2-3 iterations strikes the right balance between gathering adequate data and maintaining agile responsiveness.

Correct Answer: To identify potential improvements and design experiments to test them

In Disciplined Agile's mindsets of 'Improve Collaboratively and Evolve Experimentally', retrospectives serve primarily to identify potential improvements and create experiments to test these improvements. This aligns perfectly with the experimental and collaborative nature of Disciplined Agile. The correct answer captures the essence of both improvement and experimentation, which are core principles of DA's approach to continuous improvement. The other options are incorrect because: - Simply documenting changes limits the active, experimental nature of improvement and reduces retrospectives to a passive recording exercise - Focusing solely on velocity metrics and resource allocation is too narrow and misses the broader improvement opportunities that retrospectives should address - Establishing strict guidelines for standardized improvements contradicts the experimental and context-sensitive nature of Disciplined Agile, which promotes adaptable approaches rather than rigid standardization