---
title: [OR] [P2] [S5] [LL] [C4] Sources and Triggers for Capturing Lessons Learned
description: [OR] [P2] [S5] [LL] [C4] Sources and Triggers for Capturing Lessons Learned
image: https://blog.bcm-institute.org/hubfs/OR%20Implement%20Mapping%20Graphic/OR%20Implement%20Series%20Lesson%20Learned%20Morepost/%5BOR%5D%20%5BP2%5D%20%5BS5%5D%20%5BLL%5D%20%5BC4%5D%20Sources%20and%20Triggers%20for%20Capturing%20Lessons%20Learned.jpg
---
. .
[](http://www.bcm-institute.org/)
- [Home](https://www.bcm-institute.org/)
- [About Us](https://www.bcm-institute.org/about-us-3/)
- [A President’s Perspective](https://www.bcm-institute.org/about-us/a-presidents-perspective/)
- [Our History](https://www.bcm-institute.org/about-us/our-history/)
- [Our Advisory Council](https://www.bcm-institute.org/about-us/our-advisory-council/)
- [Customers’ Testimonials](https://www.bcm-institute.org/about-us/customers-testimonials/)
- [Credential Verification](https://www.bcm-institute.org/about-us/credential-verification/)
- [Courses](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/blog/course-fees-for-blended-learning-courses-master-catalog)
- [ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management System Audit](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/audit/business-continuity-management-audit-courses)
- [ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/bcm/business-continuity-management-courses)
- [Crisis Communication](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/crisis-communication/crisis-communication-courses)
- [Crisis Management](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/en/crisis-management/courses)
- [IT Disaster Recovery](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/it-disaster-recovery/courses)
- [Operational Resilience](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/operational-resilience/courses)
- [Operational Resilience Audit](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/operational-resilience-audit/courses)
- [Certification](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/certification/types-of-certifications-offered)
- [ISO 22301 BCMS Audit Certification](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/certification/business-continuity-management-audit-certification)
- [ISO22301 Business Continuity Management Certification](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/bcm/business-continuity-management-certification)
- [Crisis Communication Certification](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/crisis-communication/crisis-communication-certification)
- [Crisis Management Certification](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/en/crisis-management/crisis-management-certification)
- [IT Disaster Recovery Planning Certification](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/it-disaster-recovery/it-disaster-recovery-certification)
- [Operational Resilience Certification](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/operational-resilience/operational-resilience-certification)
- [Operational Resilience Audit Certification](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/operational-resilience-audit)
- [Seminars](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/meet-the-expert/mte-webinar-mainpage)
- [Store](https://www.bcm-institute.org/store-2/)
- [Contact Us](http://www.bcm-institute.org/about-us/contact-us/)
-
-
###### Improving Lessons Learned: Strengthening Operational Resilience Through Continuous Improvement
# \[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C4\] Sources and Triggers for Capturing Lessons Learned
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/4b69ddd1-f01e-4fa9-a2e1-ffa60ba221fc)
A common weakness in many organisations is that **lessons learned are only captured after major incidents**. This reactive approach limits the organisation’s ability to proactively strengthen resilience.
In a mature operational resilience framework, lessons learned must be:
- **Continuously captured**
- **Triggered by multiple events and conditions**
- **Embedded into daily operations and decision-making**
Learning opportunities exist not only in failures but also in:
- Near misses
- Minor disruptions
- Testing outcomes
- External events
This chapter explores how organisations can establish a **comprehensive and proactive approach** to identifying and capturing lessons learned.
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/2545ed73-a288-4ae5-9525-acc4b7887e4c)
[Moh Heng Goh](https://blog.bcm-institute.org/ebook-or/author/moh-heng-goh) May 14, 2026
###### Operational Resilience Certified Planner-Specialist-Expert
### [](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/3c164f95-e606-4b33-8624-b491c3f0fa1a)
### \[P2\] \[S5\] Chapter 4
### [](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/4b69ddd1-f01e-4fa9-a2e1-ffa60ba221fc) Sources and Triggers for Capturing Lessons Learned
#### **Introduction**
A common weakness in many organisations is that **lessons learned are only captured after major incidents**. This reactive approach limits the organisation’s ability to proactively strengthen resilience.
In a mature operational resilience framework, lessons learned must be:
- **Continuously captured[![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C4\] Sources and Triggers for Capturing Lessons Learned](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/856c1acb-96c5-49ed-afa3-ffbb8e61d9e6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/856c1acb-96c5-49ed-afa3-ffbb8e61d9e6)**
- **Triggered by multiple events and conditions**
- **Embedded into daily operations and decision-making**
Learning opportunities exist not only in failures but also in:
- Near misses
- Minor disruptions
- Testing outcomes
- External events
This chapter explores how organisations can establish a **comprehensive and proactive approach** to identifying and capturing lessons learned.
#### **Purpose of the Chapter**
To identify and define the **key sources and triggers** for capturing lessons learned, ensuring that organisations systematically recognise learning opportunities from disruptions, testing activities, and operational experiences across the operational resilience lifecycle.
#### **Types of Triggers for Lessons Learned**
Triggers are events or conditions that initiate the lessons learned process. These triggers can be categorised into four main types:
##### ** Event-Driven Triggers**
- Operational incidents
- Service disruptions
- System outages
- Cybersecurity breaches
##### **Test-Driven Triggers**
- Scenario testing exercises
- Crisis management simulations
- Business continuity exercises
##### **Risk-Driven Triggers**
- Near misses
- Emerging risks
- Control failures
##### **Review-Driven Triggers**
- Internal audits
- External audits
- Regulatory reviews
A comprehensive framework ensures that **learning is not dependent on major failures alone**.
#### **Operational Incidents as a Primary Source**
Operational incidents remain one of the most significant sources of lessons learned.
##### **Types of Operational Incidents**
- Technology failures (system downtime, application errors)
- Process failures (transaction errors, processing delays)
- Human errors (manual mistakes, misjudgements)
- Third-party failures (vendor outages, service disruptions)
##### **Capturing Lessons from Incidents**
For each incident, organisations should:
- Conduct structured post-incident reviews
- Identify root causes and contributing factors
- Assess impact on **Critical Business Services (CBS)**
- Evaluate response and recovery effectiveness
##### ** Importance of Timely Capture**
Lessons should be captured:
- Immediately after incident stabilisation
- While information is still fresh
- Before normal operations fully resume
#### **Scenario Testing and Exercises**
Scenario testing is a **controlled environment for generating lessons learned**.
##### **Types of Exercises**
- Tabletop exercises
- Simulation exercises
- End-to-end scenario testing
- Crisis management drills
##### ** Value of Testing-Based Lessons**
Testing allows organisations to:
- Identify hidden vulnerabilities
- Validate assumptions
- Test interdependencies
- Assess decision-making under stress
##### **Structured Debriefing**
Post-exercise reviews should include:
- What worked well
- What did not work
- Gaps in processes or controls
- Opportunities for improvement
Testing-based lessons are particularly valuable because they:
- Do not involve real customer impact
- Provide a safe environment for learning
#### **Near Misses: A Critical but Underutilised Source**
Near misses are incidents that **could have resulted in disruption but did not**.
##### **Importance of Near Misses**
Near misses:
- Reveal vulnerabilities before they cause harm
- Provide early warning signals
- Enable proactive improvements
##### **Examples of Near Misses**
- System performance degradation without outage
- Failed cyber attack attempts
- Temporary process breakdowns
- Vendor issues resolved before escalation
##### ** Encouraging Near Miss Reporting**
To capture near misses effectively, organisations must:
- Promote a **no-blame culture**
- Encourage reporting at all levels
- Provide simple reporting mechanisms
Organisations that ignore near misses often face **repeat incidents**.
#### ** Audit and Regulatory Findings**
Audits and regulatory reviews provide structured insights into organisational weaknesses.
##### **Internal Audit**
- Identifies control weaknesses
- Highlights process inefficiencies
- Assesses compliance with policies
##### **External Audit**
- Provides independent validation
- Benchmarks against industry standards
##### ** Regulatory Reviews**
- Highlight gaps in resilience capabilities
- Provide guidance on expected improvements
- Identify systemic risks
##### **Integrating Audit Findings into Lessons Learned**
Organisations should:
- Treat audit findings as lessons learned
- Integrate them into improvement plans
- Track remediation actions
#### **Third-Party and Supply Chain Disruptions**
Third-party failures are a growing source of operational risk.
##### **Types of Third-Party Disruptions**
- Vendor system outages
- Service delivery failures
- Cybersecurity incidents
- Financial instability of vendors
##### **Lessons from Third-Party Failures**
Organisations should assess:
- Dependency risks
- Contractual weaknesses
- Monitoring and oversight gaps
##### **Extending Lessons Beyond the Organisation**
Lessons learned should:
- Inform vendor management strategies
- Strengthen due diligence processes
- Enhance contingency planning
#### **Customer Feedback and Service Disruptions**
Customers often provide early indicators of service issues.
##### **Sources of Customer Feedback**
- Complaints
- Service requests
- Escalations
- Social media feedback
##### **Value of Customer Insights**
Customer feedback helps organisations:
- Identify service gaps
- Understand customer impact
- Improve service delivery
##### **Linking Feedback to CBS**
Customer insights should be mapped to:
- Critical Business Services
- Service delivery processes
- Customer journey
#### **External Events and Industry Learning**
Organisations can learn from events that occur outside their own environment.
##### **Industry Incidents**
- Banking outages
- Cybersecurity breaches
- Market disruptions
##### **Regulatory Publications**
- Guidance papers
- Enforcement actions
- Industry advisories
##### **Peer Benchmarking**
- Comparing practices with industry peers
- Identifying best practices
##### **Benefits of External Learning**
- Avoid repeating industry-wide mistakes
- Anticipate emerging risks
- Enhance preparedness
#### **Real-Time vs Post-Event Learning**
Lessons learned can be captured at different stages:
##### **Real-Time Learning**
- Captured during incidents or exercises
- Provides immediate insights
- Supports dynamic decision-making
##### **Post-Event Learning**
- Conducted after incident resolution
- Allows deeper analysis
- Enables comprehensive root cause identification
A balanced approach ensures both:
- **Immediate improvements**
- **Long-term enhancements**
#### **Establishing a Structured Capture Mechanism**
To ensure consistency, organisations must implement structured mechanisms.
##### **Standardised Templates**
- Lessons learned forms
- Incident review templates
- Exercise debrief templates
##### **Centralised Repository**
- Maintain a lessons learned database
- Enable tracking and analysis
- Provide organisation-wide visibility
##### **Trigger Thresholds**
Define clear thresholds for triggering lessons learned processes:
- Impact tolerance breach
- High-severity incidents
- Regulatory impact
- Repeated issues
#### **Challenges in Capturing Lessons Learned**
Organisations often face challenges such as:
- Failure to recognise learning opportunities
- Over-reliance on major incidents
- Poor documentation
- Lack of reporting culture
- Siloed information
Addressing these challenges requires:
- Clear frameworks
- Strong governance
- Cultural alignment
#### **Embedding a Proactive Learning Approach**
To move beyond reactive learning, organisations should:
##### **Expand Scope of Learning**
- Capture lessons from all events, not just failures
##### **Encourage Continuous Reporting**
- Make reporting part of daily operations
##### **Integrate Across Functions**
- Combine insights from:
##### **Leverage Data and Analytics**
- Identify trends and recurring issues
- Predict potential disruptions
[![\[Banner\] \[Summing\] \[OR\] \[E2\] \[C13\] Improving Lessons Learned](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/71190ffb-94e6-4ae9-b40a-8f29585ab4ec.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/71190ffb-94e6-4ae9-b40a-8f29585ab4ec)
Capturing lessons learned is not a passive activity—it requires a **structured, proactive, and multi-source approach**. By recognising diverse triggers and sources, organisations can significantly enhance their ability to learn and improve.
A mature organisation captures lessons from:
- Incidents
- Testing
- Near misses
- Audits
- External events
This comprehensive approach ensures that:
- Learning is continuous
- Improvements are proactive
- Resilience capabilities are strengthened
##### **Transition to Next Chapter**
Having identified the key sources and triggers for capturing lessons learned, the next chapter will present a **structured lessons learned framework and methodology**, detailing how organisations can systematically capture, analyse, validate, and implement improvements.
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/49818a85-5555-4d5b-a3ca-28d5300db18b)
| **C1** | **C2** | **C3** | **C4** | **C5** | **C6** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C1\] Introduction to Lessons Learned in OR](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/b76a622a-f295-4503-87fa-4c58f5f087a8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/b76a622a-f295-4503-87fa-4c58f5f087a8) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C2\] The Role of Lessons Learned in the OR Lifecycle](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/b9f0d952-dfd0-400d-b37f-24d9c59f2baa.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/b9f0d952-dfd0-400d-b37f-24d9c59f2baa) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C3\] Governance and Ownership of Lessons Learned](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/8e352c01-ff6a-4ff6-b81b-90ad0ad15f46.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/8e352c01-ff6a-4ff6-b81b-90ad0ad15f46) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C4\] Sources and Triggers for Capturing Lessons Learned](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/856c1acb-96c5-49ed-afa3-ffbb8e61d9e6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/856c1acb-96c5-49ed-afa3-ffbb8e61d9e6) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C5\] Lessons Learned Framework and Methodology](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/c86a2b1e-05a8-44b9-a74f-730d85b6d046.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/c86a2b1e-05a8-44b9-a74f-730d85b6d046) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C6\] Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Techniques](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/b3d2f707-1f82-4f0a-8d51-f3451c78c337.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/b3d2f707-1f82-4f0a-8d51-f3451c78c337) |
| **C7** | **C8** | **C9** | **C10** | **C11** | **C12 ** |
| [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C7\] Linking Lessons Learned to CBS](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/f484c1bf-992a-4298-8752-6fec87c33912.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/f484c1bf-992a-4298-8752-6fec87c33912) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C8\] Integration with Scenario Testing and Impact Tolerance](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/5eaa1a40-8d88-414b-8f38-9db2edd6ca0b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/5eaa1a40-8d88-414b-8f38-9db2edd6ca0b) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C9\] Developing and Prioritising Improvement Actions](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/af3c93f2-7736-4431-84d3-664e4bc9e425.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/af3c93f2-7736-4431-84d3-664e4bc9e425) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C10\] Embedding Continuous Improvement](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/505103ad-4012-41a7-9fb9-afda3baeb58d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/505103ad-4012-41a7-9fb9-afda3baeb58d) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C11\] Communication of Lessons Learned](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/fba3d8cc-8854-4f13-9408-37d1ebc49091.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/fba3d8cc-8854-4f13-9408-37d1ebc49091) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C12\] Technology and Tools for Lessons Learned Management](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/2b75ccca-cdc3-4327-84ff-e06677302878.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/2b75ccca-cdc3-4327-84ff-e06677302878) |
| **C13** | **C14** | **C15** | **C16** | **C17** | |
| [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C13\] Regulatory Expectations and Compliance](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/516c631b-bb38-4b5f-9446-afcedbe2751c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/516c631b-bb38-4b5f-9446-afcedbe2751c) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C14\] Common Challenges and Pitfalls](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/afb5b7fb-efcb-4832-a6bd-44f3f36c97ee.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/afb5b7fb-efcb-4832-a6bd-44f3f36c97ee) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C15\] Practical Case Study (Banking Sector Example)](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/9769f9fc-a994-4962-b5cf-7b2aa9ad5875.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/9769f9fc-a994-4962-b5cf-7b2aa9ad5875) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C16\] Future Trends in Lessons Learned](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/b0a94161-20fe-4a63-a164-12d2be9c007c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/b0a94161-20fe-4a63-a164-12d2be9c007c) | [![\[OR\] \[P2\] \[S5\] \[LL\] \[C17\] Key Takeaways and Call to Action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/edcf7673-1c76-45e7-9b70-12cda97ceac6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/edcf7673-1c76-45e7-9b70-12cda97ceac6) | |
#### More Information About OR-5000 \[OR-5\] or OR-300 \[OR-3\]
To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the OR-300 Operational Resilience Implementer course and the OR-5000 Operational Resilience Expert Implementer course.
| [](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/3530eccb-515d-401e-afc2-3469e26d7fbf) | [](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/fdd4fa9c-ed69-40c1-925f-4eb6a1c5c255) | [](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/77a34b84-0a6d-44f8-b8d6-6ab04cdf5edd) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/6e5c0cda-39b9-4bbd-b3d4-4cf46a790b14) | [](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/a68a08aa-36d3-4216-9551-202c9fde06ea) | [![ \[BL-OR\] \[3-4-5\] View Schedule](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/d0d733a1-16c0-4b68-a26d-adbfd4fc6069.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/d0d733a1-16c0-4b68-a26d-adbfd4fc6069) |
| [![\[BL-OR\] \[3\] FAQ OR-300](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/f20c71b4-f5e8-4aa5-8056-c374ca33a091.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/f20c71b4-f5e8-4aa5-8056-c374ca33a091) | If you have any questions, click to contact us.[![Email to Sales Team \[BCM Institute\]](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/3c53daeb-2836-4843-b0e0-645baee2ab9e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/3c53daeb-2836-4843-b0e0-645baee2ab9e) | [](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/7f2718a4-ea80-4f84-a319-dc2d4df37a46) |
| [](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/74b1e556-8cd2-4a74-8821-db1804534955) | [](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/f2bd8eb1-32d2-4732-9267-ea53223cf58f) | [](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3893111/084e620a-46c5-419a-82ed-6a681d15c0b6) |
#### **Comments:**
---
---
---
---
All rights reserved. Copyright 2026
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Moh Heng Goh",
"url" : "https://blog.bcm-institute.org/ebook-or/author/moh-heng-goh"
},
"dateModified" : "2026-05-14T15:21:45.762Z",
"datePublished" : "2026-05-14T15:11:03.000Z",
"headline" : "[OR] [P2] [S5] [LL] [C4] Sources and Triggers for Capturing Lessons Learned",
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://blog.bcm-institute.org/ebook-or/or-p2-s5-ll-c4-sources-and-triggers-for-capturing-lessons-learned",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject",
"url" : "https://blog.bcm-institute.org/hubfs/BCMI%20Logo.png"
},
"name" : "BCMI Pte Ltd"
}
}
```