Pronunciation: [pˈə͡ʊstmɔːtəmz] (IPA) 
The word "postmortems" refers to the examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death. The spelling of the word is based on the Latin root "post" meaning "after," "mort" meaning "death," and "em" which is a suffix indicating a noun. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word is /pəʊstˈmɔːtəmz/. The stress falls on the second syllable, and the pronunciation of the "o" sound is like the "oh" sound in "go."
Postmortems are a thorough examination or analysis conducted after the conclusion or termination of an event, process, project, or undertaking, specifically with the objective of identifying and evaluating the factors that contributed to its success or failure. Also known as a retrospective or after-action review, a postmortem is an introspective review undertaken by individuals or teams to gather insights and lessons learned from a project or endeavor.
Postmortems typically involve a comprehensive review of the activities, decisions, and outcomes involved in a particular undertaking, often employing a systematic and structured approach. The purpose is to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats encountered, and to determine possible improvements for future similar endeavors.
These investigations aim to provide a clear understanding of the processes that led to specific outcomes and to gain insights into the factors that influenced those results. By analyzing the various aspects of a completed task, a postmortem helps individuals or groups in refining their strategies, decision-making processes, and project management approaches for future endeavors.
Postmortems can be conducted in various fields, including business, software development, science, and healthcare. They typically involve gathering input from a variety of stakeholders involved in the project, including team members, clients, and any other relevant parties. The insights gained from postmortems can ultimately inform future planning, mitigate risks, and enhance overall performance in similar undertakings.
The word "postmortems" is derived from the Latin term "post mortem", which means "after death". In Latin, "post" means "after", and "mortem" means "death". The term has been borrowed into English to refer to examinations, discussions, or analyses that occur after a particular event, especially to evaluate its success or failure. In the context of software development and project management, "postmortems" refer to a thorough review and analysis, usually conducted by a team, after the completion of a project or the occurrence of a significant event.
