How do you plan and execute a software product launch post-mortem?

You want to make sure you run a post-mortem after your launch or incident, this is also part of you assess stage as that is where you’ll get the metrics and feedback that will inform your external assessment, but this is also important in terms of the internal assessment, how your teams worked together, what was missing, what can be done better next time and what strategies or tactics didn’t result in the desired outcome. Make sure you document it all, and you assign owners to all actions that need to be completed for a more successful next release!

Start by clearly defining the scope, it helps set the boundaries and objectives of the post-mortem. Ensure important questions are addressed, such as user sign-ups, product usability, encountered issues, and user satisfaction. Encourage open dialogue with all stakeholders, focusing on successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Try to gather key data points to capture areas for improvement and generate actionable insights for future enhancements. Remember, a comprehensive post-mortem isn't solely about analysis, it's a catalyst for product validation and continuous improvement.

In a product launch post-mortеm, dеfining thе scopе involvеs clеarly outlining thе spеcific arеas and mеtrics to bе еvaluatеd. This includes еxamining thе еffеctivеnеss of markеting stratеgiеs, usеr еngagеmеnt, tеchnical pеrformancе, and customеr fееdback. A wеll-dеfinеd scopе еnsurеs that thе post-mortеm analysis is targеtеd, actionablе, and contributеs to itеrativе product improvеmеnt.

Planning and executing a software product launch post-mortem involves a structured evaluation of the entire launch process. Once the product is launched, schedule a meeting with all teams involved in the release. The goal is to analyze what went well, what didn't, and how things can be improved for future launches. Begin by revisiting the initial product launch goals and evaluating how well they were achieved. Discuss all aspects of the launch process, including planning, communication, execution, and user feedback. Encourage all team members to share their insights, experiences, and suggestions. Document key findings, lessons learned, and areas for improvement. It's crucial to approach the meeting with a blame-free, learning mindset.

As with everything in product, scope definition is important. Identify the specific aspects of the software product launch you will evaluate, such as marketing campaigns, user onboarding, technical performance, and customer feedback. Establish a timeline for the analysis, focusing on the period from the launch date (or even before this) to a predetermined end point, such as one month post-launch. Involve key stakeholders from various departments to ensure a comprehensive perspective. Develop a set of questions to guide your analysis, such as "How effective were our marketing efforts in driving adoption?" or "What were the most common technical issues reported by users?"

Quantitative questions, to assess execution: Were deadlines met or missed? Did we provide all deliverables outlined in the plan doc? Were pre-defined success metrics achieved? Were workflows and processes followed? Was there a budget overrun? Qualitative questions, to go beyond data: Did we deliver work at high standards we and customers expect? Do customers agree? Did people feel like they had the resources, information, and support they needed to get their own tasks done? Was criteria or task expectations poorly defined or communicated? How could the work run more smoothly for this product or with other partners in the future? Do you want to work on a similar type of launch again? If not, why not?

I believe collеcting the right data is paramount in product launch post-mortеm. It involves identifying and gathеring kеy mеtrics alignеd with prе-dеfinеd succеss critеria. This data providеs thе foundation for a comprеhеnsivе analysis, еnabling informеd insights into usеr behavior, fеaturе pеrformancе, and ovеrall product еffеctivеnеss.

Gather quantitative and qualitative data from multiple sources to get an overall view of the product launch. Analyse metrics such as user acquisition, retention, and engagement rates, as well as financial data like revenue and cost per acquisition. Conduct surveys and interviews with users to understand their experiences and pain points. Review customer support logs to identify common issues and feedback. Collect insights from internal teams, including sales, marketing, and development, to assess their perspectives on the launch.

We have an After Action Review (AAR) template that we use for our team. We use this as an Live Word Document with our team that our whole team can engage with. What is the project? What happened as planned? What did not happen as planned? What could we do in the future to make the plan better? Follow-up Items:

One of the most important things in sharing and discussing the findings in a post-mortem is to make sure you foster blameless culture, one where individuals feel empowered to take risks, learn from mistakes, and focus on continuous improvement without fear of retribution or blame.

ASSESS INTERNALLY + EXTERNALLY Focus on things that went well and that you wish went better, look at metrics and open customer feedback Discuss the next iteration, what will change, what experiments you will run for product and marketing Document it all with actions and owners!

Develop an action plan, with assigned priorities, based on the findings of your post-mortem analysis. Identify the most critical areas for improvement and allocate resources accordingly. Assign specific tasks and deadlines to relevant team members, ensuring accountability and ownership. Set clear metrics (including time bounds) to measure the success of each action item, allowing you to track progress and make data-driven decisions. Regularly communicate updates on the implementation process to maintain transparency and engagement among stakeholders. Keep monitoring the impact of the implemented changes, making adjustments as necessary.

Steps to postmortem : Track your product metrics that you have set before lauch and mesure it. Do retrospection for you lauch stategy. Internal metrics are also important to mesures help to understand team better alao give team growth opportunities. Validate each point with best practices. Change launch stategy if needed.

To conduct a software product launch post-mortem, establish clear goals and involve a diverse team for varied perspectives. Use tools for collaboration such as Monday.com or Notion. Gather feedback through surveys, customer interviews, and analyze data using Google Analytics or Mixpanel. Identify successes and areas for improvement, and prioritize actionable steps for future launches. Regularly refine your post-mortem approach to foster ongoing enhancement.