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Retrospectives

Cards & Columns

Understanding Columns

Columns are the structural foundation of every retrospective board. Each column represents a category of feedback defined by the template you selected when creating the retro. For example, the Start / Stop / Continue template creates three columns, one for each category.

Columns are configured during the draft phase and locked once the retro advances to check-in. Each column has a title, an optional description to guide participants, and a distinct color for visual clarity.

Creating Cards

Cards are the individual pieces of feedback that participants contribute during the reflect phase. Each card belongs to a single column and contains a text message describing an observation, feeling, or suggestion.

How to create a card

  1. Navigate to the column where your feedback belongs.
  2. Click the Add card button at the bottom of the column, or use the text input field if one is visible.
  3. Type your feedback. Keep it concise but specific enough that others will understand the context.
  4. Press Enter or click Submit to add the card to the board.

You can create as many cards as you like in any column. There is no limit to the number of cards per participant or per column.

Write one idea per card. This makes it easier to group, vote on, and discuss individual topics later in the retro. If you have a complex thought, split it across multiple cards.

AI card coaching

As you write a card, Unpack can offer suggestions to make your feedback clearer and more actionable. This optional AI feature analyzes your card text and may suggest rewording to be more specific or constructive. You can accept, modify, or ignore the suggestion.

Editing Cards

You can edit your own cards at any time during the reflect phase. After the reflect phase ends, cards are locked to preserve the integrity of grouping and voting.

How to edit a card

  1. Find the card you want to edit on the board.
  2. Click the card to select it, then click the edit icon (pencil) or double-click the card text.
  3. Modify the text as needed.
  4. Press Enter or click Save to apply your changes.

You can only edit cards that you authored. Other participants' cards cannot be modified, even by the facilitator.

Deleting Cards

If you change your mind about a piece of feedback, you can delete your own cards during the reflect phase.

How to delete a card

  1. Click the card to select it.
  2. Click the delete icon (trash can) that appears.
  3. Confirm the deletion in the dialog that appears.

Deleted cards are permanently removed and cannot be recovered. If you are unsure, consider editing the card instead.

Facilitators and organization admins can delete any card on the board, regardless of authorship. This is intended for removing inappropriate content and should be used sparingly.

Card Visibility and Anonymous Mode

By default, cards in Unpack are anonymous. This means that while you can see all cards on the board, you cannot see who wrote each card. Anonymity encourages honest, candid feedback without fear of judgment.

How anonymity works

  • During the reflect phase, each participant can see their own cards marked with a subtle indicator, but other participants' cards show no author information.
  • The facilitator also cannot see card authors by default.
  • Authors can choose to reveal their identity on individual cards if they want to (opt-in reveal).
  • Anonymity settings are configured during the draft phase and apply to the entire retro.

For more details on anonymity, see the Anonymous Feedback article.

Real-Time Card Updates

Every card action is broadcast to all participants in real time via Turbo Streams. This means the board stays synchronized across all browsers without anyone needing to refresh.

What happens in real time

  • New cards appear in the correct column for all participants the moment they are submitted.
  • Edits update the card text in place for everyone viewing the board.
  • Deletions remove the card from all participants' views immediately.
  • Grouping changes move cards visually into or out of groups for all viewers.

Real-time updates are delivered over WebSockets using ActionCable. If your connection drops temporarily, the board will resynchronize automatically when the connection is restored.

Working with Cards Across Phases

Cards behave differently depending on which phase the retro is in:

  • Reflect — Cards can be created, edited, and deleted by their authors.
  • Group — Cards can be dragged into groups but not edited or deleted.
  • Vote — Cards can receive votes but are otherwise read-only.
  • Discuss — Cards are read-only and presented in vote-priority order.
  • Commit & Closed — Cards are fully read-only as part of the retro record.

This phased locking ensures that feedback remains stable once the team begins evaluating and discussing it.