The Community Autopsy

A Community Autopsy is a structured, diagnostic process designed to identify the root causes of a community's failure or significant decline. It involves a systematic analysis of the community's strategy, operations, user experience, and internal support structures to learn from mistakes and inform future initiatives. Much like a medical autopsy, its purpose is not to assign blame but to understand precisely what went wrong through an evidence-based investigation. This process examines common pitfalls such as a poorly defined purpose, a flawed user journey, a toxic culture, or a lack of internal ownership and resources.

Why it matters — The Community Autopsy

Conducting a formal autopsy for a failed community initiative is a mark of professional maturity within an organisation. While it can be uncomfortable to dissect failure, the process provides immense value that extends beyond the single failed project. It transforms a costly mistake into a valuable learning asset, ensuring the same errors are not repeated.