Nuts & Bolts / Form

Decision Log

Record decisions before context disappears.

Type: FormTypical time: 5 minutes

Template

  1. Record decision date and decision owner.
  2. State the decision in one clear sentence.
  3. List options considered.
  4. Summarize the reason for the chosen option.
  5. Record expected impact and known tradeoffs.
  6. Link supporting notes, tickets, emails, or documents.
  7. Define when the decision should be revisited, if applicable.

Expected output

Decision, owner, rationale, alternatives, impact, and review date.

Use notes

OwnerAssign one person responsible for keeping the template current.
ReviewReview after significant changes, incidents, staffing changes, or tool changes.
RiskAdapt the template to local policies, contractual duties, privacy requirements, and operational risk.