AfterActionReviews

AfterActionReviews, sometimes written as After Action Reviews, is a structured debriefing process used by organizations to evaluate a mission, operation, exercise, or project after its completion. The goal is to capture what happened, why it happened, and how to improve future performance.

The concept originated in the U.S. Army in the late 20th century and has since spread to government, business, and non-profit sectors. It emphasizes learning and continuous improvement over assigning blame.

AARs are typically facilitated sessions held soon after an event, with participants who were involved. The session reviews objectives, timeline, and results; participants discuss what went well, what did not, and why. The output includes concrete lessons and recommendations and assigns owners and deadlines for follow-up actions. A short written AAR document or slide deck often accompanies the discussion.

Applications and benefits: AARs are used after field operations, training exercises, or projects to improve procedures, coordination, decision-making, and safety. They promote shared understanding, rapid learning, and institutional memory.

Limitations and best practices: To be effective, AARs should separate facts from opinions, foster a safe environment, and focus on processes rather than individuals. Limitations include the potential for defensiveness, incomplete data, or poorly defined actions. Effective AARs include timely sessions, neutral facilitators, clear action items, and distribution of the final notes.