Post-Mortem Checklist Template

Review what went well, what went wrong, and define action items after a project or incident.

This free project management checklist template includes 5 tasks organized into 2 sections. Use it to streamline your post-mortem process.

Review

  1. Gather data and timeline

    Compile a factual timeline of events, including key dates, decisions, and outcomes. Gather metrics and supporting data.

    • Incident / Project Name (required)
    • Date of Occurrence (required)

  2. What went well

    Identify the things that worked well during the project or incident. Recognize positive contributions and effective processes.

    • Successes (required)

  3. What went wrong

    Identify what did not go as planned. Focus on processes and systems, not individuals. Be honest and specific.

    • Issues Encountered (required)
    • Severity (required) — Options: Minor, Moderate, Major, Critical

Action Items

  1. Identify root causes

    Dig deeper into the issues identified to find the underlying root causes. Use techniques like the 5 Whys to get to the core problem.

    • Root Cause Analysis (required)
    • Contributing Factors — Options: Process Gap, Communication Breakdown, Resource Constraint, Technical Debt, Unclear Requirements, External Dependency

  2. Define action items and owners

    Create specific, actionable follow-up items with clear owners and deadlines to prevent recurrence.

    • Action Items (required)
    • Follow-Up Review Date (required)