Ever experienced this? A project starts off promising, the first few weeks go well—then suddenly, problems arise that could have been predicted… or completely blindside you. With a Pre-Mortem Analysis, you can prevent exactly that.

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What Is a Pre-Mortem Analysis? 🔍

Instead of analyzing the reasons behind a failed project after the fact (Post-Mortem), we flip the approach: We assume the project has already failed—before it even begins. This perspective shift helps identify risks early and mitigate them proactively. 👉 The clou: AI can support you massively in this process.

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How to Conduct an AI-Assisted Pre-Mortem 🏗️

Step 1: Let AI Simulate the Worst-Case Scenario 🚨

Use an AI like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Claude with a prompt like:

“Imagine our [project/campaign/task/vision + as much context as possible] has completely failed. What could have caused it? First, create a list of potential reasons and blind spots we should be aware of and/or mitigate in advance. Be extremely thorough and analyze the failure from all relevant perspectives. [You can specify relevant perspectives or other details—more context means better results.]”

💡 Tip: You can ask AI to adopt different perspectives (e.g., a critic, a lawyer, an uninvolved third party, or a team member).

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Step 2: Human Risk Analysis 🧐

AI-generated lists are good—but never perfect. So, critically evaluate the output:

✔️ Are there realistic risks missing that you know from experience?
✔️ Are some risks overestimated or irrelevant?
✔️ Are certain problem areas underrepresented (e.g., legal hurdles, resource constraints, internal team dynamics)?

Refine the list by incorporating your expertise and your team’s insights.

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Step 3: Let AI Develop Preventive Measures 🛠️

Once you’ve reviewed and expanded the list, ask AI:

“Now develop specific preventive measures to minimize or ideally eliminate the likelihood of each identified problem.”

💡 Tip: If AI remains too vague, ask targeted follow-up questions like:

• “How can we improve team communication to avoid misunderstandings?”
• “What low-budget solutions exist for resource shortages?”
• “How can we reduce legal risks?”

Conclusion: Humans & AI as the Perfect Team 🎯

The combination of AI (broad knowledge, rapid evaluation) and human expertise (experience, intuition, ethics, insider knowledge) makes the AI-assisted Pre-Mortem Analysis a fast, comprehensive, and valuable tool for effective planning.

✨ Benefits:
✅ Early risk detection
✅ Targeted preventive measures
✅ Better decision-making 😊