Assess the Outcome
Review the results of a solution to determine its impact, identify what worked and what did not, and learn from the experience before tackling similar problems.
THE IDEA
Step 4: Assess the Outcome
Review what worked, what didn’t, and what impact the solution had. This helps you judge whether you solved the problem, improve your long-term problem-solving skills, and avoid repeating earlier work.
When to use it
A project manager conducts a post-mortem meeting to document project successes and failures.
A doctor reviews a patient's test results after a course of treatment to determine next steps.
A software development team holds a sprint retrospective to improve their workflow.
A student reviews their performance on a practice test to identify weak areas before the final exam.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Marketing Campaign Retrospective
After launching a complex campaign, a marketing team schedules a 'Step 4' review meeting. They compare actual performance against projected KPIs, identify which channels and messages reached the audience effectively, and document which assumptions were invalid. They use these findings to plan the next campaign.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
What specific data or feedback indicates whether the solution was successful?
What aspects of the process were most effective, and which were least effective?
What is the single most important lesson from this cycle that I should apply to my next problem?
Often confused with
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Thinking in Systems and Mental Models Think Like a Super Thinker (Dawson, Marcus P)