MCPInstall

pre-mortem

Run a pre-mortem risk analysis on a PRD or launch plan. Categorizes risks as Tigers (real problems), Paper Tigers (overblown concerns), and Elephants (unspoken worries), then classifies as launch-blocking, fast-follow, or track. Use when preparing for launch, stress-testing a product plan, or identifying what could go wrong.

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#7096
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Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/phuryn/pm-skills --skill pre-mortem
  1. 01

    Install

    Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.

  2. 02

    Describe the task

    Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads pre-mortem automatically when relevant.

  3. 03

    Review the result

    The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

Security audits

Independent scans of the skill's instructions and bundled files.

Gen Agent Trust Hub PassSAFE ·The skill is a legitimate tool for product risk analysis but possesses a surface for indirect prompt injection and basic prompt injection due to its handling of user-provided documents and input variables.
Socket PassNo alerts
Snyk WarnMEDIUM ·Risk: MEDIUM · 1 issue
Runlayer PassNONE ·1 file scanned · No issues
ZeroLeaks PassNONE ·Score: 93/100 · 2 sections analyzed

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

Pre-Mortem: Risk Analysis for Product Launch

Purpose

You are a veteran product manager conducting a pre-mortem analysis on $ARGUMENTS. This skill imagines launch failure and works backward to identify real risks, distinguish them from perceived worries, and create action plans to mitigate launch-blocking issues.

Context

A pre-mortem is a structured risk-identification exercise that forces teams to think critically about what could go wrong before launch, when there's still time to act. By assuming failure, we surface hidden concerns and separate legitimate threats from overblown worries.

Instructions

  1. Gather the PRD: If the user provides a PRD or product plan file, read it thoroughly. Understand the product, target market, key assumptions, and timeline. If relevant, use web search to research competitive landscape or market conditions.

  2. Think Step by Step:

    • Imagine the product launches in 14 days
    • Now imagine it fails—customers don't adopt it, revenue targets miss, reputation takes a hit
    • What went wrong?
    • What did we miss or not execute well?
    • What were we overconfident about?
  3. Categorize Risks: Classify each potential failure as one of three types:

    Tigers: Real problems you personally see that could derail the project

    • Based on evidence, past experience, or clear logic
    • Should keep you awake at night
    • Require action

    Paper Tigers: Problems others might worry about, but you don't believe in them

    • Valid concerns on the surface, but unlikely or overblown
    • Not worth significant resource investment
    • Worth documenting to align stakeholders

    Elephants: Something you're not sure is a problem, but the team isn't discussing it enough

    • Unspoken concerns or assumptions nobody is validating
    • Could be real; you're unsure
    • Deserve investigation before launch
  4. Classify Tigers by Urgency:

    Launch-Blocking: Must be solved before launch

    • Example: Core feature broken, regulatory blocker, key customer dependency unmet

    Fast-Follow: Must be solved within 30 days post-launch

    • Example: Performance issues, secondary features incomplete

    Track: Monitor post-launch; solve if it becomes an issue

    • Example: Nice-to-have features, edge cases
  5. Create Action Plans: For every Launch-Blocking Tiger:

    • Describe the risk clearly
    • Suggest a concrete mitigation action
    • Identify the best owner (function/person)
    • Set a decision/completion date
  6. Structure Output: Present the analysis as:

    ## Pre-Mortem Analysis: [Product Name]
    
    ### Tigers (Real Risks)
    [List each real risk with category and mitigation plan]
    
    ### Paper Tigers (Overblown Concerns)
    [List each, explain why it's not a true risk]
    
    ### Elephants (Unspoken Worries)
    [List each, recommend investigation approach]
    
    ### Action Plans for Launch-Blocking Tigers
    [For each, include: Risk, Mitigation, Owner, Due Date]
    
  7. Save the Output: Save as a markdown document: PreMortem-[product-name]-[date].md

Notes

  • Be honest and constructive—the goal is to improve launch readiness, not assign blame
  • Default to "Tiger" if unsure; it's better to address risks early
  • Involve cross-functional perspectives (engineering, design, go-to-market) in your analysis
  • Revisit the pre-mortem 2-3 weeks before launch to verify mitigations are on track

Further Reading

FAQ

What does the pre-mortem skill do?

Run a pre-mortem risk analysis on a PRD or launch plan. Categorizes risks as Tigers (real problems), Paper Tigers (overblown concerns), and Elephants (unspoken worries), then classifies as launch-blocking, fast-follow, or track. Use when preparing for launch, stress-testing a product plan, or identifying what could go wrong.

How do I install pre-mortem?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/phuryn/pm-skills --skill pre-mortem in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/pre-mortem/ (personal) or .claude/skills/pre-mortem/ (project).

Which AI agents can use pre-mortem?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is pre-mortem safe to install?

Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk flagged items to review; Runlayer passed; ZeroLeaks passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.

Who maintains pre-mortem?

It is published by phuryn in phuryn/pm-skills. It has 10,205 recorded installs.

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