How We can make our Sprint Review / Sprint Demo / 'Show & Tell' productive .

In my earlier article on “Why I don’t see any value in Sprint Review / Sprint Demo / 'Show & Tell' anymore :( ? “ , I highlighted some of the challenges in conducting an effective and productive sprint review. These challenges should be dealt with specific strategies, by the scrum master and squad to make Sprint Review more productive. Following are the challenges and recommended solutions :

1. Objectives are not clear :Ensure that the purpose/objectives of the Sprint Review meeting are clearly defined and communicated prior to it. Ensure that one adapts the product backlog, demonstrate increment, and collect feedback in the process. Outline briefly the agenda/presentation to help prepare your team members at the onset.
2. Communication is not effective :Train team members how to use good communication. Foster brief and lucid speeches in the review process. Utilize pictures such as charts and diagrams for clarification purposes.Explain how technical information should be presented so it can reach the people at management and non-management levels of the organization.
3. Poorly Executed Demos :Ensure that the team is ready for the actual Sprint Review by conducting practice demos prior to them. Provide clear information on the focus areas that will be covered during the demo. Show practical value of the work by using real world examples. You may want to consider having a moderator or a facilitator to lead the demo.
4. Lacking Stakeholder Engagement :Include all key stakeholders actively, in the Sprint Review process, as much as possible. Invite them personally and show how valuable their opinion can be for the product. Provide opportunities for the stakeholders to query and offer input during the review phase. Make a point to consider an adjustment on timing for the review so as to suit schedules of concerned stakeholders.
5. Absence of Continuous Improvement: Build an environment that promotes continuous improvement in the team. Leverage the Sprint Review for identifying process enhancements. Frequently review previous feedbacks and follow up on recommendations made therein. Make use of the feedback and generate actions that should be covered in future sprints.
6. Impractical Expectations:Inform the stakeholders about the core principles of Agile as well as the iterative approach of such operations. Manage expectations by providing regular updates about the status of the project outside of Sprint Review meetings.- Show the velocity of the team using data and metrics and the value that has been created over the period of time.
7. Cultural Issues:Overcome cultural problems using openness, trust, and interorganizational collaboration. Organize team building sessions to enhance relations. Build an environment in which employees should feel comfortable giving honest, improvement-oriented feedback. Transparent and collaborative are other leadership styles that should be emulated in leading by example.
8. Inadequate Preparation:Prepare a checklist or process for the team in readiness for the Sprint Review. It also means having in place all the relevant artifacts or artefacts, the demo environment being operational and every member knowing what agenda for the day. Organize a pre-review-meeting for any remaining problems.?

By focusing on specific measures to tackle each challenge individually will help boost up the efficiency of your Sprint Review/ Sprint Demo / 'Show & Tell' /Show case, promote better cooperation, as well as ensure the deliverables of the squad is understood and is clear for all stakeholders.