A premortem is a management and decision-making technique used to anticipate potential failures in a project before they happen. It involves imagining that a project has already failed and then working backward to identify what might have caused the failure.
How a Premortem Works
- Set the Stage – The team assumes the project has already failed.
- Brainstorm Reasons for Failure – Team members list possible reasons why things went wrong.
- Analyze and Prioritize Risks – Identify the most likely and impactful risks.
- Develop Preventive Actions – Create strategies to avoid or mitigate these risks.
- Improve the Plan – Adjust the project plan based on the insights gained.
Benefits of a Premortem
- Identifies risks before they become real problems.
- Encourages open discussion and critical thinking.
- Reduces overconfidence in the success of the project.
- Improves project planning and execution.
Would you like an example of how to conduct a premortem in a real project?
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Management