Why Can Overemphasis on Retrospectives Lead to “Happy Clappy Scrum”?
When retrospectives become the primary stage for a Scrum Master to “shine,” teams may build a strong learning climate yet fail to produce releasable increments or involve real stakeholders. The result is a feel-good process without evidence of delivered value.
Metaphor
Overemphasis on retrospectives is like a gym where everyone journals about fitness but nobody actually lifts weights. Reflection builds awareness, but without reps the body never gets stronger.
Likewise, Scrum that fixates on retrospectives risks creating positivity without progress—lots of learning talk, little value delivered.
Works Consulted
In addition to any sources cited above, the following works informed my thinking: (1)
1.
Verwijs C. Are Scrum Masters Sufficiently Focused On Valuable Outcomes? [Internet]. scrum.org; 2022 [cited 2025 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.scrum.org/resources/blog/are-scrum-masters-sufficiently-focused-valuable-outcomes