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When it comes to innovation, failure is an inevitability. But what if there was a way to anticipate and prevent failures before they happen? Enter the premortem.
A premortem is a technique that involves imagining that a project has failed and then working backward to identify the reasons why. This approach, popularized by Google X, the tech giant’s experimental arm, is designed to identify potential risks and roadblocks before they become an issue.
The process begins by having a team of experts and stakeholders come together to imagine that a project has failed. They then brainstorm a list of potential reasons for the project’s failure, including technical challenges and organizational roadblocks.
Once the team has identified potential risks, they can take steps to mitigate or eliminate them. For example, if a premortem revealed that a lack of resources was a potential roadblock, the team could work to secure additional funding or find ways to work more efficiently.
The premortem process is especially valuable for high-risk, high-reward projects. Google X’s projects, for example, are known for being ambitious and cutting-edge, and a premortem provides a way to anticipate and prevent potential failures before they happen.
Google X’s premortem process is one of the key reasons for its success in developing disruptive technology such as Google Glass, Google self-driving cars, and Google Loon. By anticipating and preventing potential failures, Google X can focus on what’s important and avoid wasting time and resources on projects that are unlikely to succeed.
A premortem process is a powerful tool for a multifamily organization looking to innovate. It is especially important in an era where many solutions are chasing too few problems.