Make product decisions explicit. Separate decision quality from outcome.
Goal
Choose option with rationale, owner, success criteria, and review date.
Rules
- Define decision before debating options.
- Include status quo.
- Avoid binary framing.
- Create at least 3 options.
- Decide faster for reversible choices.
- Slow down for irreversible choices.
- Set criteria before scoring.
- Capture dissent.
Decision Types
- Type 1: hard to reverse, high stakes, decide carefully.
- Type 2: reversible, lower stakes, decide quickly.
Flow
- State exact decision.
- Name decision maker.
- Identify deadline and reversibility.
- Generate options.
- Define criteria and weights.
- Compare options.
- Choose.
- Record rationale, risks, dissent, metrics.
- Set review date.
Resources
Output
## Product Decision Record
Decision: [what is decided]
Owner: [decision maker]
Date: [date]
Status: [proposed / approved / implemented]
Type: [Type 1 / Type 2]
Context:
- Problem: [problem]
- Constraints: [constraints]
- Deadline: [date]
Options:
- Status quo: [summary]
- Option A: [summary]
- Option B: [summary]
Criteria:
- [criterion]: weight [1-5]
Decision:
- Chosen: [option]
- Rationale: [why]
- Risks: [main risks]
- Dissent: [concerns]
Success:
- Metric: [metric]
- Target: [value]
- Review date: [date]