You've faced a setback in your Agribusiness career. How can you conduct a successful post-mortem analysis?

Facing a setback in your agribusiness career can be disheartening, but it's an opportunity to learn and grow. A post-mortem analysis allows you to dissect what went wrong and how to prevent similar issues in the future. This process is not just about identifying failures, but also about recognizing areas that can be improved upon for better results next time.

1 Acknowledge Emotions

It's natural to feel a range of emotions after a setback. Before diving into the analysis, it's important to acknowledge these feelings. You might feel frustrated, disappointed, or even confused about the next steps. Accepting these emotions as part of the process can help clear your mind, making it easier to approach the situation objectively. Remember, every successful agribusiness professional has faced challenges; what sets them apart is how they respond and learn from these experiences.

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Niyi Ogungbade

Top 1 % Agribusiness Expert
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To truly understand the roots of setbacks, sometimes you need a fresh pair of eyes. Inviting external agribusiness auditors to harvest insights and sift through the business’s weaknesses and gaps can provide a balanced and unbiased assessment. To reap the best results from this process, it's essential to halt all activities—both in generating documents and accessing information physically and electronically—until the audit is thoroughly completed. This pause ensures that the auditors can delve deep without any disturbances, allowing them to uncover the true reason why for the setback.

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Sheila Ferreira

Supply Chain Management | Procurement Manager | Logistics | Foreign Trade Manager
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After accepting this feeling, it is important to remember to separate "the person from the problem". We tend to personify setbacks, disappointments and failures - this can be a major problem in detecting the root cause or overcoming bad feelings.

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2 Gather Data

To conduct a thorough post-mortem analysis, you need to collect all relevant data. This includes production figures, financial reports, weather patterns, and any other metrics that could have influenced the outcome. By compiling this information, you can begin to piece together a complete picture of the situation. Analyzing data helps identify specific areas where your agribusiness may have veered off course, providing a factual basis for the rest of your assessment.

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Sheila Ferreira

Supply Chain Management | Procurement Manager | Logistics | Foreign Trade Manager
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In my experience, just as important as analyzing the data itself, is the sanitation of that data and, in some cases, the assumptions adopted for correct and assertive analysis.

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3 Identify Issues

Once you have all the data, start pinpointing where things went awry. Look for patterns or anomalies in the data that could explain the setback. Was there a pest outbreak that wasn't managed in time? Did market prices for your crop fall unexpectedly? Identifying the issues is crucial because it helps you understand what factors were within your control and which were not. This step is not about assigning blame but about finding the root causes of the problem.

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Sheila Ferreira

Supply Chain Management | Procurement Manager | Logistics | Foreign Trade Manager
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At this stage, according to the data collected, it is important to use graphs, tools that help to better visualize bottlenecks, points for improvement... sometimes the wrong choice of graph or inappropriate use of parameters can mask an important deviation.

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4 Evaluate Responses

After identifying the issues, evaluate how you responded to them. Did you take swift action, or were there delays? Assessing your response to challenges is key in understanding how you can improve your decision-making processes. Perhaps there was a lack of contingency planning, or maybe communication breakdowns led to ineffective management. By critically evaluating your responses, you can develop strategies to enhance your agility and resilience in the face of future agribusiness challenges.

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Sheila Ferreira

Supply Chain Management | Procurement Manager | Logistics | Foreign Trade Manager
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external factors cannot be ignored in its analysis, such as: weather, harvest, changes in competing markets, among other factors that may have indirectly influenced the expected result.

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5 Plan Improvements

With a clear understanding of what went wrong and how you responded, you can now plan for improvements. This might involve investing in new technologies, revising risk management strategies, or improving staff training. The goal is to create actionable steps that will mitigate the risks of facing a similar setback in the future. It's important to set realistic goals and timelines for these improvements to ensure they are implemented effectively.

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Sheila Ferreira

Supply Chain Management | Procurement Manager | Logistics | Foreign Trade Manager
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When planning, you should also consider the people who are or could be the "driving force" behind the improvements - a well-made plan executed by the wrong people could be another setback.

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6 Reflect and Adapt

Finally, take a step back and reflect on the broader lessons learned from this setback. How has this experience changed your perspective on risk and management in agribusiness? Adapting your business model and mindset based on these insights is essential for long-term success. Continuous learning and adaptation are hallmarks of a resilient agribusiness career. Use this post-mortem analysis as a springboard for growth and innovation in your agricultural endeavors.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You've faced a setback in your Agribusiness career. How can you conduct a successful post-mortem analysis?

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1 Acknowledge Emotions

2 Gather Data

3 Identify Issues

4 Evaluate Responses

5 Plan Improvements

6 Reflect and Adapt

7 Here’s what else to consider

Agribusiness

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