Project Postmortem

Post mortem review for this project is to record and analyze the individual activities that took place during the two-day training session. Conducting a post mortem review allows the company to gain the knowledge and understanding of what were the strengths and weaknesses of this particular training session. Gaining this knowledge provides the company with the ability to enhance and improve the training session(s) for future uses.

As one recent study determined, post mortem reviews are used for "experiences gathered concern performance and applicability of practices used in the organizations, gained from concluded projects" (Ivarsson, Gorschek, 2012, p. 17). Some of the items that a post mortem review can look at include obstacles that the participants faced and how they overcame them, challenges that were taken on by both the group and the individuals and any important lessons that future project leaders and participants would need to know in order to facilitate understanding and knowledge.

Some of the drawbacks to a post mortem review is that it can be time consuming and redundant. Some individuals look upon a post mortem review as if the company were attempting to 'check up' on them. Infrequently, post mortem reviews document no changes at all and can be a complete waste of time. Post mortem reviews can be used in areas outside of business as well, and in fact are frequently used in the medical field, and even more frequently in the coroner's work place.

One study showed that the post mortem review is often used by those who are "observing death and those who perform death-work at such close quarters and facing the sights and odors experienced daily by medical examiners" (Gabe, 2008, p. 160). Post mortems can also be used by the government to determine whether policies work or how they can work better. A particular case concerns the post mortem on the Bush Administration's decision to go to war.

The post mortem determined that the Bush Administration's pre-Iraq was decision making "focused on a dysfunctional National Security Council (NSC) structure as the major reason for the lack of a thorough strategic assessment" (Borer, Twing, 2011, p. 494). For specific project post mortems, the departments, groups and individuals who should participate in the post mortem include; Human Resources, Planning, Finance and Accounting, Quality Control, and Management. Human Resources (HR) should always be involved in post mortem reviews.

HR is involved in almost every aspect of what is taking place in the company that concerns both employees and employer. What is hoped to discover for the HR department viewpoint, is that was the two-day workshop worthwhile? Was the workshop effective from an employee point-of-view, and if so what was it about the workshop that most pleased the employees? Additionally, the HR department would like to determine exactly what project benefits were attained by the employee.

This can be important information in that ensuring employees have the knowledge necessary to do their jobs, or complete their duties and from and employer's viewpoint a knowledgeable employee is more likely to be an effective and efficient employee. Planning should be involved in the postmortem reviews because the department is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the meetings, workshops, clinics, dinners, lunches, and breakout sessions are all conducted in a timely manner.

The planning department looks to ensure that the entire project (or workshop) runs smoothly and events take place as scheduled. The postmortem review allows the Planning Department to determine if that was the case or not. Finance and Accounting can benefit through a post mortem review by understanding the different expenses that will crop up with any type of workshop such as the one just completed. It is hoped that the department would discover exactly what it takes to pay for all the various expenses.

Expenses, if not handled correctly, can blossom out of control seemingly overnight. Additionally, the Accounting department has the responsibility to ensure that the overall cost effectiveness of these workshops stays in line. Determining whether the employees, and the employer receives a good value for the overall cost is something that should be taken quite serious. The Quality Control department goes hand-in-hand with Finance and Accounting. What this department wishes to determine is whether the product being offered or the information being presented is worthwhile, valid and reliable. Conducting.