After Action Review

An After Action Review ( AAR) is a system developed by the U.S. Army learning tool that serves the systematic exchange of experience within military units. It is performed immediately after use in the form of a brief team meeting.

The aim of the review is to make mistakes and success factors of the use of all members of the unit visible, to identify opportunities, build on strengths and eliminate weaknesses.

Meanwhile, the AAR catchment in staff development and work has kept in project teams.

An after action review involves four steps: First, the originally planned target state, that determines the objectives of the assignment or project. In the second step the events are processed in chronological order. At this stage, the group members describe not only their actions, but also their expectations and feelings, key situations and problems encountered. In the third step, a target-actual comparison. The reasons for the success or failure of the assignment or project be determined. Error and success factors are addressed. Based on this analysis, the group combines the fourth and last step together their experiences in so-called Lessons Learned. The lessons learned should benefit both the group itself as well as other groups in similar situations.