1. Virtual Helpdesk
  2. Knowledge Management
  3. Creating and Iterating KM Tools and Techniques

What is an after-action review?

An after-action review (AAR) is a structured review process or debrief.

An after-action review (AAR) is a structured review process or debrief—usually a meeting—that allows project teams to reflect on an event or task they have just accomplished and analyze what happened and why, what worked well, and what can be done better or differently in the future. 

After-action reviews allow us to learn from our experience and apply the lessons learned to the next phase of the project or to accomplish the task more effectively the next time it is done. They enable knowledge transfer by helping people: 

  • Capture best practices and identify lessons learned from implementation experience
  • Capture multiple perspectives of what happened and why
  • Encourage feedback for improved performance

Learn more about how to conduct an After-Action Review in the KM Tools and Techniques insert in the Building Better Programs Guide.