HKSM
Explorer—Shopper—Vacationer—Prisoner (ESVP)
A brief, anonymous check-in run at the start of the Retrospect Sprint Meeting to gauge participants' mindset and set the tone. Each attendee privately chooses the label that best matches their outlook: Explorer, Shopper, Vacationer, or Prisoner.
Key Points
- Used at the beginning of the Retrospect Sprint Meeting to sense team mood and establish the meeting climate.
- Anonymous by design to promote honesty; results can be tallied with dots, cards, or a quick digital poll.
- Meanings: Explorer = eager to learn and discover; Shopper = wants a few useful takeaways; Vacationer = happy for a break, low investment; Prisoner = feels compelled to attend.
- Facilitator uses the distribution to adapt the agenda, activities, and facilitation style to increase engagement.
Example
At the start of a Retrospect Sprint Meeting, the Scrum Master asks everyone to place an anonymous E, S, V, or P sticker on a board. Many choose V and P. Seeing low engagement, the Scrum Master shortens status talk, runs a quick check-in to surface blockers, and pairs a small group to address a recurring impediment before moving to improvement experiments.
PMP Example Question
At the kickoff of a Retrospect Sprint Meeting, the facilitator asks team members to anonymously choose Explorer, Shopper, Vacationer, or Prisoner. What is the primary purpose of this activity?
- Decide which product backlog items to include in the next sprint
- Assess participants' mindset to set the tone and tailor facilitation
- Estimate user stories using relative sizing
- Collect formal performance metrics for management reporting
Correct Answer: B — Assess participants' mindset to set the tone and tailor facilitation
Explanation: ESVP is a quick, anonymous check-in used at the start of the retrospective to understand attendee attitudes and guide how the meeting is run.
