Etteranalys

Etteranalys is a systematic examination of an event after it has occurred, with the aim of understanding what happened, why it happened, and what can be improved to prevent recurrence. The term is used in Norwegian and Swedish contexts as a post-event analysis, often translated as post-analysis or postmortem. It is commonly applied to incidents, projects, or operations and is a core part of organizational learning and quality improvement.

A typical etteranalys is triggered by a significant event or a delayed outcome that warrants review. The process usually includes planning, data collection (records, interviews, timelines), and analysis to identify root causes and contributing factors. Findings are translated into recommendations and an action plan, followed by dissemination of results and a follow-up to verify implementation. Common methods used in etteranalys include root cause analysis, the five whys technique, fishbone diagrams, fault tree analysis, and lessons-learned exercises. In many contexts, after-action reviews (AAR) or post-implementation reviews are closely related practices.

Outcomes of etteranalys may include improved safety, more reliable processes, updated policies and training, and better risk mitigation. Challenges can include bias, incomplete data, and a reluctance to blame individuals; successful kultur requires psychological safety and a non-punitive approach. Variants are found across sectors: healthcare incident investigations, software postmortems, defense after-action reviews, and project retrospectives. Documentation typically takes the form of AAR reports, incident or postmortem reports, and a shared lessons-learned repository.