What is the key difference between a stand-up and a retrospective?

• A. Stand up is a weekly planning meeting; retrospective is daily.
• B. Stand up is a daily coordination meeting; retrospective is a periodic reflection.
• C. Stand up is about code reviews; retrospective about testing.
• D. Stand up is for external stakeholders; retrospective is internal.

Answer: (B)

The difference being tested is cadence and purpose: stand-ups are daily coordination meetings meant to align the team on what was done, what will be done, and any blockers, while retrospectives are periodic reflections (typically at the end of a sprint) focused on examining the process and outcomes to find improvements. Stand-ups are fast, time-boxed and operational, keeping daily work on track. Retrospectives are longer collaborative sessions that produce concrete action items to enhance how the team works. The other options misstate cadence or focus—for example, stand-ups aren’t weekly planning, retrospectives aren’t about code reviews or testing, and stand-ups aren’t for external stakeholders.