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
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)
What went well
Identify the things that worked well during the project or incident. Recognize positive contributions and effective processes.
- Successes (required)
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
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
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)