Preparation
Step-by-step instructions
Materials
Flip charts or digital whiteboards
Markers or sticky notes
Guiding questions template (optional)
Practical recommendations
Allow enough time for teams to identify problems in depth
Foster a safe environment where ideas can be shared without fear of criticism
Use templates or guides to help structure the discussion
Emphasize that this activity is not about fearing failure, but about strengthening planning
Follow up with a "post-mortem" after project implementation to assess which problems actually occurred and how they were resolved
Inspiration
Strategies to make the activity more effective
- Role-based version: Assign each participant a specific role within the team (leader, analyst, critic, optimist) to generate diverse perspectives.
- Use of categories: Divide problems into areas such as management, communication, planning, or resources to better structure the reflection.
- Reverse approach: Instead of imagining failure, have teams visualize the project's success and analyze what decisions led to that outcome.
- Visual recording: Use a mind map or diagram to connect causes and effects of the identified problems.
- Integration with retrospectives: Link this activity with project review meetings to improve future decision-making.
