A project management idea: Premortem

I’m always looking for new and interesting ideas to share with libraries.  Recently I read an article in Harvard Business Review (check it out on EBSCO Host, POWER Library if you’re in PA) called Performing a Project Premortem.  The article gave an idea for better project management: in the planning phases of a new project work with your team backwards.  1.  Start out with a basic idea of your plan. 2.  Then with other team  members, imagine the project failed.  3.  Each should make a list of possible reasons why the project failed.   

As everyone shares the potential reasons in a round robin fashion, it gives teams a chance to discuss and plan for potential failures.  It helps the team to discuss risks in an environment where not as much is invested.  Everyone is able to share their ideas in an open forum that can head off problems before they start.  As a benefit, when the project is executed, team members will also be keenly aware of areas of danger and will be careful in their evaluation steps.   

Sometimes we all need some help to plan a project.  Trying this perspective, from the business world, not necessarily the not-for-profit library world, is a new tool to try.