Lessons learned toolkit
The lessons learned toolkit is designed to promote various techniques for managers to capture, share and implement lessons learned from projects. The overall goal is to enhance product development in the British Council.
Importance of lessons learned
Making the best re-use of lessons learned is essential for building up our knowledge and expertise so that we can deliver the successful global and regional products of the future.
We need to develop a culture for systematically doing this. To facilitate this, these easy to use techniques are specifically designed to:
- generate a learning environment and not an opportunity to apportion blame
- drive project team members to take responsibility for implementing lessons learned
- ensure that the lessons do not just come from the perspective of one person (i.e. the report writer)
They are all face to face although key points can be easily captured for lessons learned reports.
After action reviews
A structured review after an activity or stage in a project that analyses what happened, why it happened, and how it can be done better. Successful After Action Reviews helps you turn mistakes and poor performance into learning opportunities.
Baton passing
A fast method for sharing, identifying high-impact lessons and gaining personal commitment to action. Baton passing can either be 'fast' - when based on clear lesson-themes - or 'slow' and more detailed when connected to specific complex issues.
Storytelling
A way of gathering lessons learnt by encouraging project teams to talk about their experiences through stories. It builds on and makes full use of this natural way in which we learn from each other and gain understanding about everyday life experiences.
Reverse thinking
A simple technique you can use to identify possible themes to discuss using the lessons learned techniques.
When to use the techniques
Although each of these techniques can equally be applied to different situations, the table below shows when we feel it is most suitable to use each technique.
How to write a lesson learned section in a project report
Steps on how to write a lesson learned section in a project report.
