postmortem

Facilitate blameless postmortems with 5 Whys and fishbone diagrams.

142|20|Updated Oct 22, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/lyndonkl/claude --skill postmortem-lyndonkl
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: postmortem
Source: https://github.com/lyndonkl/claude/tree/main/skills/postmortem
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/lyndonkl/claude --skill postmortem-lyndonkl

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps you conduct thorough, blameless postmortems to understand failures, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions, turning incidents into learning opportunities.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Blameless Analysis: Facilitates a culture of transparency by focusing on systems, not individuals.
  • Root Cause Identification: Employs techniques like 5 Whys and Fishbone diagrams to uncover systemic issues.
  • Actionable Prevention: Defines specific, owned, and time-bound corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
  • Use Case: After a production outage, use this Skill to document the timeline, impact, root cause (e.g., a configuration error due to a process gap), and create actions like adding automated config validation and updating runbooks.

Quick Start

Use the postmortem skill to analyze the recent service outage and document lessons learned.

Frequently Asked Questions about postmortem

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I conduct a blameless postmortem analysis after a production outage?

A blameless postmortem analysis focuses on systemic failures rather than individual blame to identify root causes. You document the incident timeline, quantify impact, and define actionable preventive measures with specific owners and deadlines.

What is the best way to identify root causes during incident analysis?

Incident analysis root cause identification works best using structured methods like 5 Whys or fishbone diagrams. These techniques help uncover systemic process gaps and configuration errors rather than surface-level symptoms.

How do I track corrective actions to completion after a negative outcome?

Tracking corrective actions to completion requires defining specific, owned, and time-bound preventive measures. You document lessons learned and monitor the corrective actions through resolution to support organizational learning.

When do I need a structured postmortem process for incident analysis?

You need a structured postmortem process after incidents, failures, or negative outcomes to prevent recurrence. It quantifies impact, identifies systemic root causes, and turns failures into learning opportunities through documented corrective actions.

Can I use 5 Whys and fishbone diagrams together for root cause analysis?

Yes, 5 Whys and fishbone diagrams can be used together for root cause analysis. The postmortem process supports multiple structured methods to uncover systemic issues and define actionable preventive measures.

How do I build a blameless culture for incident analysis in my team?

Building a blameless culture for incident analysis requires focusing on systems and processes, not individuals. The postmortem method facilitates transparency by identifying process gaps and defining corrective actions without assigning blame.