In an agile team retrospective, when a concern about degrading code quality is raised, it is essential for the project manager to address this issue proactively to prevent future rework and maintain the project's manageability. The most effective action the project manager can take is to help the team create or refine the Definition of Done (DoD). The DoD is a clear and concise list of criteria that outlines when a task, user story, or feature is considered complete. It ensures that all team members have a shared understanding of what is required for a piece of work to be ready for delivery, which includes meeting the quality standards.
By focusing on the DoD, the team can improve its delivery quality by making sure that all aspects of code quality are addressed before a task is marked as done. This approach promotes better quality assurance practices and reduces the likelihood of defects and technical debt accumulating over time, which aligns with the core agile principles of transparency, learning, and iteration. It also encourages continuous improvement and helps the team to deliver high-quality increments consistently.
References: (Based on best practices in agile methodologies and the importance of a well-defined DoD as part of the agile framework.)