Pre-Mortem

Identify ways to troubleshoot project roadblocks and failures before they happen

Often in projects, the learning happens too late in the process and nothing can be done to impact the project outcomes. The Pre-Mortem tool enables team members to harness the collective experience and wisdom of the team, at a time when it’s most useful – before the project even starts.

LIVE ACTIVITY

Brainstorm scenarios for failure

 

Bring the team together at the beginning of the project and ask them to imagine that the project is over, and that it was a failure. Looking back, have everyone imagine what may have caused the project to fail using the Pre-Mortem Template provided.

 

Identify the most critical risks that are in your control

 

Have each person share their point of view on the biggest perceived risks. As a team, group these by theme and vote on the most critical issues that the team should address before the project starts.

 

Brainstorm preventative solutions

 

Individually, brainstorm solutions for preventing these potential risks from happening. Capture these ideas for preventative solutions within the provided template. Share and discuss as a team.

 

Regroup and conduct a final vote

 

As a group, vote on which preventative solutions you will pursue and formalize a Pre-Mortem plan by assigning tasks and determining deadlines.

Tools you may like

Think, Pair, Share

Avoid groupthink with a sequenced dialogue of solo, paired and group discussions

Storyboarding

A sketched frame-by-frame visual to show a current or future experience

What, So What, Now What?

Create structured, coordinated next steps following exposure to new information or ideas

Project Stakeholder Mapping

Identify the who and when of stakeholder engagement

Recently viewed

Login
Have an account?