Gary Klein's premortem method for project risk management

The premortem method, developed by psychologist Gary Klein, is a strategic planning exercise designed to identify potential project failures before they occur. Unlike a post-mortem, which analyzes a project after damage has been done, a premortem asks team members to imagine that a project has already failed spectacularly and then work backward to determine the causes.

This technique aims to overcome social pressures and the tendency for team members to remain silent during standard kickoff meetings to maintain harmony. By treating failure as a certainty rather than a possibility, the method encourages dissent and allows individuals to use their experience to surface blind spots.

Effective implementation involves briefing the team on the plan, declaring a hypothetical failure, allowing for silent individual reflection, and then collecting diverse reasons for the failure. To avoid the exercise becoming a mere formality, experts suggest that identified risks must be assigned owners, deadlines, and early warning signs to ensure they are addressed during the project lifecycle.