DEVENT planning resources
Post-Event Review: Questions, Measures and Next Steps
A useful event review compares what happened with the purpose you agreed at the start. Gather a small amount of relevant evidence, then decide what to repeat or change.
Return to the original goals
Write down the intended audience, purpose and success measures, such as attendance against registrations or completion of planned sessions. Distinguish a measured result from an impression or a goal that was not tracked.
Reconcile the budget
Compare approved and actual venue, catering, staffing, equipment and other costs. Record unpaid invoices or agreed adjustments with the responsible person, and avoid presenting an estimate as a final figure.
Ask focused questions
Ask attendees and the team what worked, what made participation difficult and what they would change. Keep a feedback request short, explain how responses will be used and avoid collecting unnecessary personal details.
Review operations and access
Discuss registration, travel information, venue layout, speakers, catering, supplier handovers and how individual access requests were handled. Consider feedback privately and record practical improvements without naming guests unnecessarily.
Assign the next actions
Choose a few changes, name an owner and note when each should be considered. Store the final run sheet, budget and useful supplier information in the organisation’s approved location for the next event.
Worked example · illustrative details
A half-day conference review
The organiser compares registrations with the check-in count, reconciles the final venue invoice and asks attendees about the program and access. The team assigns an owner to improve wayfinding before the next event.
Your next steps
- Compare outcomes with the original goals.
- Reconcile actual costs and outstanding items.
- Gather focused attendee and team feedback.
- Assign improvements and retain useful records.
Common questions
Is attendance the only measure of success?
No. Choose measures that reflect the event’s purpose and explain what was actually measured.
Should feedback be anonymous?
Decide what is suitable for the audience and explain whether responses can be identified.
Useful next steps
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