ROTI: Meeting Value 1-5

Return on Time Invested (ROTI) is a quick, effective feedback mechanism that measures how valuable participants found your meeting. This simple 1-5 rating scale gives you immediate insight into meeting effectiveness and helps improve future sessions for development and product teams.

What Is the ROTI Method?

ROTI (Return on Time Invested) is a lightweight retrospective technique that measures the perceived value of a meeting relative to the time spent. Developed as part of agile methodologies, this approach uses a simple 1-5 scale where:

  • 1 = The meeting was a complete waste of time
  • 2 = Some value, but not worth the time invested
  • 3 = Equal value to time invested
  • 4 = More value than time invested
  • 5 = Exceptional value for time invested

The visual rating system provides a clear, quantifiable measure of meeting effectiveness that teams can track over time.

Benefits & When to Use

Use the ROTI method:

  • At the end of any meeting, workshop, or retrospective
  • When you want quick feedback without a lengthy discussion
  • To establish a baseline for meeting effectiveness
  • For tracking meeting improvement over time
  • When introducing new meeting formats or agendas

Benefits include:

  • Takes less than 2 minutes to complete
  • Provides actionable data about meeting quality
  • Encourages honest feedback in a safe format
  • Creates accountability for meeting facilitators
  • Helps identify which meetings need restructuring or elimination

How to Run a ROTI Session

  1. Introduce the concept (30 seconds)

    • Explain the ROTI scale from 1-5
    • Clarify that you're looking for honest feedback to improve future meetings

  2. Ask participants to vote (1 minute)

    • Request that each team member place a token on the number that represents their rating
    • Remind participants that voting is anonymous and honest feedback is valuable

  3. Optional: Collect additional context (2-3 minutes)

    • If ratings are lower than expected, ask for brief comments on how to improve
    • For high ratings, ask what specifically made the meeting valuable

  4. Review the results (1 minute)

    • Calculate the average score if needed
    • Acknowledge the feedback and commit to specific improvements

  5. Track over time (ongoing)

    • Record the ROTI scores for each meeting type
    • Look for patterns and improvements as you adjust your meeting approach

Total time: 2-5 minutes

Tips for a Successful ROTI Session

  • Keep it quick – The ROTI exercise should take minimal time at the end of your meeting
  • Maintain psychological safety – Create an environment where honest feedback is welcomed
  • Don't over-explain – The simplicity of the 1-5 scale is its strength
  • Avoid defensive reactions – If scores are low, view this as valuable information rather than criticism
  • Take action on feedback – Make visible changes based on consistent low scores
  • Consider timing – Run the ROTI before people start leaving the meeting
  • Use the data – Compare scores across different meeting types to identify which formats work best for your team

When used consistently, the ROTI method helps development teams optimize their meeting time and build a culture of continuous improvement in their collaboration practices.

Use this template