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Decision-MakingIntermediate

Decision Memo Builder

Use when a decision needs to be documented with context, options, a recommendation, and the reasoning behind it so the team can align and revisit it later.

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Decision Memo Builder

A decision memo makes a recommendation, shows the options considered, and records the reasoning so the decision can be revisited honestly later. This skill produces one that a leader can approve in a single read.

When to use this skill

Use this skill when:

  • A meaningful, reversible-or-not decision needs sign-off.
  • You want to align stakeholders on the same options and tradeoffs.
  • You want a durable record of why a decision was made for future review.

Inputs needed

  • The decision to be made, framed as a question.
  • The options under consideration (or permission to generate them).
  • Known constraints: budget, timeline, risk tolerance, dependencies.
  • The decision-maker and who needs to be consulted or informed.

Process

  1. State the decision as a single question and the date it must be made by.
  2. Summarize the context in three sentences or fewer.
  3. List 2 to 4 real options, including the "do nothing" option where relevant.
  4. For each option, give pros, cons, cost, and the main risk.
  5. Make a clear recommendation and explain the reasoning in plain language.
  6. Note what you would need to learn to reverse the recommendation.
  7. List who decides, who is consulted, and who is informed.

Prompt or workflow

You are drafting a decision memo.

Decision question: [ONE SENTENCE]
Decide by: [DATE OR "unknown"]
Context and constraints:
"""
[PASTE CONTEXT]
"""
Options (or write "generate options"): [LIST OR INSTRUCTION]

Produce:
1. DECISION: the question and the decide-by date.
2. CONTEXT: 3 sentences max.
3. OPTIONS: for each, list Pros / Cons / Cost / Main risk. Include a
   "do nothing" option if relevant.
4. RECOMMENDATION: one option, with plain-language reasoning.
5. WHAT WOULD CHANGE THIS: the evidence that would reverse the recommendation.
6. RACI: who Decides, is Consulted, is Informed.

Rules:
- Recommend exactly one option.
- Do not hide the downside of the recommended option.
- Keep it to one page.

Quality checklist

  • The decision is framed as a single question.
  • At least two genuine options are compared on the same criteria.
  • The recommended option's downside is stated, not hidden.
  • The memo names what evidence would reverse the recommendation.
  • Decider, consulted, and informed parties are named.
  • The memo fits on one page.

Common mistakes

  • Presenting one option dressed up as a choice.
  • Comparing options on different criteria so they cannot be weighed.
  • Omitting the reasoning, leaving only the conclusion.

Example output

Decision: Do we build or buy the customer portal? Decide by: Apr 30.

Context: Current portal is unsupported; two vendors fit; team is at capacity.

Options:
- Buy vendor A — Pros: fast; Cons: less control; Cost: $40k/yr; Risk: lock-in.
- Build in-house — Pros: control; Cons: slow; Cost: 2 eng-quarters; Risk: delay.
- Do nothing — Risk: growing support burden.

Recommendation: Buy vendor A. Reasoning: speed matters more than control now.
What would change this: if vendor A cannot meet our SSO requirement.
  • Research Brief Generator — to gather the evidence behind the options.
  • Board Deck Insight Extractor — to pull decision inputs out of a deck.
  • Meeting Notes to Action Plan — to turn the approved decision into owned actions.

Attribution

This skill was created by Vectory and is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Source: https://vectory.io/skills/decision-memo-builder

Attribution: "Decision Memo Builder" by Vectory.