KISS Review Framework: Keep, Improve, Start, Stop Analysis

An action-orientated review model to convert past experience into practice.

FRAMEWORK CARD

KISS Review Framework

Goal
Turn reflection into clear actions by distinguishing what to keep, improve, start, and stop.
Best For
Sprint Retrospectives; Project Post-Mortems; Quarterly Reviews; 1:1 Feedback

Why This Matters

Many projects drift off course not because of a lack of effort, but because of a lack of reflection. Teams often repeat mistakes or fail to scale what is actually working.

The KISS Review Framework matters because it provides a quick, structured way to evaluate performance. It moves feedback away from vague impressions (“I think we did okay”) toward clear, actionable categories.

The KISS review framework is a straightforward, easy-to-understand evaluation tool that helps you assess what’s working, what needs improvement, what should be stopped, and what should be started in a project.

KISS stands for:

  • Keep
  • Improve
  • Stop
  • Start

One of the great things about the KISS framework is its flexibility—you can apply it at any stage of a project, whether it’s in progress, at the end, or after completion.

Core Concept of the Framework

To better understand the KISS model, think of it in terms of a logical quadrant:

On the X-axis, we have Good/Bad Results, and on the Y-axis, we have Sustainable/Unsustainable.

By combining these, we get the following insights:

Quadrant A: Keep (Sustainable + Good Result)

This represents things you’ve done well. It could be the result of effective methods, good habits, or smart ideas.

The key here is to stick to what works and continue building on these strengths.

Quadrant B: Improve (Sustainable + Bad Result)

Even if you’re on the right path, the results may not be optimal.

Focus on improving processes or tools to make sure you're still headed toward the right goal.

Quadrant C: Stop (Unsustainable + Bad Result)

When something is both unsustainable and leading to bad results, it’s time to stop.

This could involve stopping ineffective methods, breaking bad habits, or addressing behaviors that are harming progress.

Quadrant D: Start (Unsustainable + Good Result)

If you’ve identified actions that contribute to success but haven’t started them yet, this is where "Start" comes into play.

Begin implementing these actions to build on your successes.