What should be the focus during a postmortem to avoid fundamental attribution error?

Focusing on operational processes and infrastructure during a postmortem is crucial for preventing the fundamental attribution error, which tends to place undue blame on individuals for incidents rather than considering broader systemic issues. By concentrating on the processes and systems in place, teams can identify weaknesses and areas for improvement that may have contributed to the incident.

This perspective encourages a collective view of the problem, examining how changes in processes or infrastructure might lead to better outcomes next time. When only individual actions are examined, it can obscure how systemic factors played a role in the event, leading to misleading conclusions about responsibility and accountability. Thus, emphasizing operational considerations fosters a culture of learning and improvement that supports team growth and reduces the likelihood of repeating the same mistakes.