post-mortem analysis
After-the-fact review
Post-mortem analysis is examination conducted after something has ended or failed—originally an autopsy, now commonly a review of a completed project or incident: The team conducted a post-mortem analysis to understand why the launch went wrong.
In business and technology, it identifies what worked, what didn't, and how to improve next time.
The goal is learning rather than blame.
- autopsyMedical examination after death
- cause of deathWhy someone died
- forensicPertaining to legal investigation
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- failureLack of success
root-cause · debrief · retrospective · examination · review · lessons learned · incident · dissection · cold case · dead on arrival · coroner · pathology · blame · findings · timeline · aftermath · report · death
post-mortem analysispre-mortem
Analysis before failure occurs
feasibility study · risk assessment · risk mitigation · forecast · due diligence
post-mortem analysisrisk mitigation
Reducing exposure to threats
early warning system · preventive maintenance · quality assurance
mortem, analysis, postmortem, mortal, mortality, immortal, immortality, mortician, mortify