Overview

Capture what happened, why it happened, and what to do differently with this After Action Review (AAR) template. Originally developed by the military, the AAR process is now widely used by business teams to extract learning from any completed project, incident, or event — and this template structures that conversation on a shared Zoom Whiteboard canvas.

Key Features

• Four-section framework: What Was Planned, What Actually Happened, Why the Difference, What to Do Next
• Timeline area for mapping key events and decision points
• Root cause analysis space for digging below surface-level explanations
• Action items section with owner and due date fields
• Exportable format for sharing learnings with stakeholders

How to Use

1. Open the board immediately after the event or project while the experience is fresh
2. Work through each of the four sections in order — use sticky notes for open brainstorm contributions before consolidating into text
3. For the "Why the Difference" section, use the 5 Whys pattern: keep asking why until you reach a root cause — connect findings with the Connector tool
4. Capture action items as Cards with an assigned owner and due date
5. Export the completed board as a PDF for distribution to stakeholders

Benefits

Without a structured debrief, teams repeat the same mistakes. The AAR turns any experience — good or bad — into a learning asset that makes the next project better.

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