{
  "title": "The pre-mortem: imagining failure to decide better",
  "url": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/le-pre-mortem-imaginer-l-echec-pour-mieux-decider-en",
  "language": "en",
  "datePublished": "2026-08-29",
  "publisher": {
    "name": "SHR — Swiss Human Resources",
    "url": "https://www.shr.swiss",
    "address": "Esplanade de Pont-Rouge 9A, 1212 Lancy, Suisse"
  },
  "summary": "Imagining a failure that has already happened helps identify more possible causes. The experimental base is old but limited.",
  "section": "Research",
  "topic": "Decision-making",
  "place": {
    "name": "Lausanne",
    "region": "Vaud",
    "country": "CH"
  },
  "keyPoints": [
    {
      "heading": "The mechanism",
      "point": "Deborah Mitchell, J."
    },
    {
      "heading": "The method",
      "point": "Gary Klein (2007, Harvard Business Review) derives the pre-mortem: before deciding, the team imagines the project failed and lists why."
    },
    {
      "heading": "The nuance",
      "point": "It widens the risk inventory; it does not guarantee action or lower overall optimism."
    },
    {
      "heading": "The limit of common practice",
      "point": "Classic risk reviews ask people to critique a plan defended by its author, which inhibits doubt.."
    },
    {
      "heading": "A practical check in Lausanne",
      "point": "For the next major decision, run a twenty-minute pre-mortem and keep the list."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "authors": "Pennington",
      "year": "1989",
      "source": "Journal of Behavioral Decision Making"
    },
    {
      "authors": "Klein",
      "year": "2007",
      "source": "Harvard Business Review"
    }
  ],
  "wordCount": 162,
  "image": "https://www.shr.swiss/img/blog-editorial-2026-08-29-en.jpg?v=4",
  "translations": {
    "fr": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/le-pre-mortem-imaginer-l-echec-pour-mieux-decider",
    "en": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/le-pre-mortem-imaginer-l-echec-pour-mieux-decider-en",
    "de": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/le-pre-mortem-imaginer-l-echec-pour-mieux-decider-de",
    "it": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog/le-pre-mortem-imaginer-l-echec-pour-mieux-decider-it"
  },
  "relatedPages": {
    "programme": "https://www.shr.swiss/formation/prise-de-decision/lausanne",
    "city": "https://www.shr.swiss/formations-ville/lausanne",
    "blog": "https://www.shr.swiss/blog"
  },
  "citationPolicy": "Citation autorisée avec mention « SHR — Swiss Human Resources » et lien vers l'article."
}