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Decision-note template
Make options, evidence, trade-offs and ownership visible in a concise decision record.
A practical starting point. Adapt these prompts to your context; use non-sensitive or redacted information.
You can copy these prompts into your own working document. No registration is required.
The decision
State the question, decision owner, deadline and intended outcome.
- We need to decide…
- The accountable owner is…
- The decision is needed by… because…
Evidence and uncertainty
Distinguish observations from assumptions. Record source dates and material gaps.
- Evidence we have…
- Assumptions we are making…
- Information that could change the recommendation…
Options and trade-offs
Include continuing the current approach where relevant. Compare practical implications rather than listing features.
- Option and expected contribution to the outcome…
- Cost, effort, dependencies and risks…
- What would make this option unsuitable…
Decision and review
Record the chosen direction, reasoning, first action and review point.
- We chose… because…
- First action, owner and date…
- We will review… using…
- We will reconsider if…
Would an outside perspective help?
If these questions expose an issue that is difficult to resolve internally, tell me what is happening. We can establish whether a focused engagement would be useful.
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