Shared methodology layer consumed by CEO, CFO, CTO, and COO profiles. Provides the foundational frameworks for decision-making, strategic reasoning, stakeholder communication, and governance — used across all C-suite engagements.
Domain Model
Executive work decomposes into four interconnected domains:
| Domain | Covers | Consumed By |
|---|---|---|
| Decision Frameworks | RAPID, DACI, decision matrices, pre-mortems, red-teaming | All profiles |
| Strategic Thinking | Inversion, first principles, second-order effects, probabilistic reasoning | CEO, CTO |
| Stakeholder Communication | Executive summaries, board decks, strategy memos, crisis communication | All profiles |
| Governance | Risk appetite, delegation levels, escalation paths, decision rights | All profiles |
When to Load
Load this skill when the task involves:
- Choosing a decision-making framework for a specific problem
- Structuring an executive summary or board-level communication
- Applying strategic thinking patterns to a complex problem
- Designing or auditing governance structures
- Escalating a decision through the appropriate channel
- Running a pre-mortem or red-team on a strategic plan
- Preparing stakeholder communication at the C-suite level
Loading Order
skill_view('executive-methodology') # This — methodology index
skill_view('artifact-pyramids') # Output contract
skill_view('executive-methodology', file_path='references/decision-frameworks.md')
skill_view('executive-methodology', file_path='references/strategic-thinking.md')
skill_view('executive-methodology', file_path='references/stakeholder-communication.md')
skill_view('executive-methodology', file_path='references/governance.md')
Reference Files
| Reference | Load When | File |
|---|---|---|
| Decision Frameworks | You need to choose and apply a decision-making framework (RAPID, DACI, decision matrix, pre-mortem) | references/decision-frameworks.md |
| Strategic Thinking | You need to apply inversion, first principles, second-order effects, or probabilistic reasoning to a problem | references/strategic-thinking.md |
| Stakeholder Communication | You're preparing an executive summary, board deck, or strategy memo | references/stakeholder-communication.md |
| Governance | You're designing delegation rules, escalation paths, risk appetite, or decision rights | references/governance.md |
Design Principles
- Output is the artifact. Every engagement produces a structured deliverable at an absolute path. The artifact pyramid pattern from
artifact-pyramidsskill applies. - Know which framework fits. RAPID is for decisions with one accountable person. DACI is for group decisions with a driver. Decision matrices are for comparing options. Pre-mortems are for stress-testing plans. Choose deliberately.
- Surface assumptions before conclusions. Every strategic analysis should expose its axioms. An inversion exercise is only as valuable as the assumptions it challenges.
- Level-appropriate communication. Board decks are not strategy memos which are not daily standup updates. The format must match the audience's time, context, and decision authority.
- Governance is a force multiplier. Clear decision rights prevent bottlenecks and empower execution. Every escalation path that is unclear will be tested in a crisis.
Related Skills
artifact-pyramids— output contract specificationstrategy-frameworks— CEO-specific strategic planning (OKRs, competitive analysis, growth)technology-radar— CTO-specific technology evaluation and architecture governancefinancial-modeling— CFO-specific unit economics, modeling, and SaaS metricsoperational-design— COO-specific process design, scaling, and vendor management