Themed
Iceberg retrospective template
Run an Iceberg retrospective online for free: what's visible above water and the root causes below. No sign-up.
Opens a new board with these columns, right in your browser.
What is the Iceberg retrospective?
The Iceberg retro separates what everyone can see (Above water: symptoms, events) from what lies underneath (Below water: root causes, assumptions, culture). It is a simple way to move from symptoms to causes.
The columns
- Above water
- Below water
When to use it
Use it when the same problems keep returning, after incidents, or when actions keep treating symptoms.
Facilitator tip: for each Above water card, ask "why" until someone writes a Below water card. Two or three rounds are usually enough to reach causes such as unclear ownership, missing tests or conflicting priorities, which are the ones worth acting on.
How to run it in Peel in 5 steps
- Create an Iceberg board and share the link.
- Write Above water first: visible problems.
- Reveal, then write Below water: what causes them.
- Vote on the root causes that matter most.
- Plan actions that address the causes, not the symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
How does it compare to the 5 Whys?
Both look for root causes. The Iceberg makes it visual and collaborative.
Is it good for incident reviews?
Yes, or use the Post-incident template.