Performing a Project Premortem by Gary Klein

In the online article “Performing a Project Premortem” by Gary Klein. Klein explains the project planning method called a premortem. He gives an example of the premortem planning method by comparing it postmortem. Postmortem is a “a medical setting allows health professionals and the family to learn what caused a patient’s death.” (Klein, 2007) He explains how premortem is the “hypothetical opposite of a postmortem.” (Klein, 2007) The idea of the premortem planning method is to not only point out what all can go wrong during the project but to look at the situations as if they have already occurred and brainstorms ideas on how the team will handle the situations and create a concrete plan to prevent the situations from occurring. Klein then goes on to give his readers a couple of examples when the premortem planning method was successful in a business setting. He also examples how this planning method helps builds the team members confidence because they can demonstrate “their intelligence and experience, and others learn from them.” (Klein, 2007)

Even though I do not have any experience with project planning in a business setting. I have been a part of planning events for student organizations like student council and athletics. The events were planned in a normal meeting where we throw out ideas and create a plan for the event. Then, we begin to go right into planning the event and handle the problems as they come along the way instead of discussing what might go wrong ahead of time. The premortem method goes even a step further by putting the team members in the mindsight the situations have occurred and requiring the members to brainstorm resolutions to resolve the situation. I will personally apply this method in my current life going forward when I plan vacations and book shows for my boyfriend. He is a part time musician and travels at least three to four times a month mostly around Texas, but also out of state at times. It never fails I get a phone call that something wrong has happened rather his flight is late, or he must go on earlier for a set, or there’s an issue with his room. Going forward when we book his shows we will have a sit down and try to brainstorm se ideas that can go wrong and what to do if they do occur. I believe the method will save us not only a lot of time but a lot of money as well. Only negative aspect I can think of with the premortem method. I can see it possibly causing more stress to planning the event for the team members because they are now thinking about everything that can go wrong. I also believe the more you but negative thoughts of in the universe the more likely they are to happen. I like to keep a positive mindset in every situation and this method kind of forces you to do the opposite.