Decision documentation

Documenting decisions can significantly enhance decision-making and organizational learning. Here are several expert strategies on how to effectively document decisions:

1. Evidentiary Record:

   • Annie Duke recommends creating an evidentiary record that includes your beliefs, rationale, and different potential outcomes before making a decision. This helps avoid hindsight bias and allows for better learning from past decisions 1.

2. Lower Barriers:

   • Kris Brandow suggests integrating decision documentation into the normal workflow to reduce perception of it as extra work. For instance, adding a field in tools like Jira or summarizing decisions post-meeting can make documentation more manageable 2.

3. Decision Journaling:

   • Document decisions by writing them down in a journal, preferably in your own handwriting. This reflection helps distill complex decisions and identify areas needing further understanding. An accessible template for this is available on the FS blog 3.
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       1

       Mastering Decision Making

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       2

       Decision Documentation Dance

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       3

       Decision Journaling

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       4

       Balancing Product and Sales

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       5

       Decision Making Frameworks

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4. Retroactive Analysis:

   • Regularly revisit decisions to assess their outcomes and if any changes are necessary. Clementine Jacoby emphasizes the importance of conducting retrospectives and adjusting your approach based on feedback and performance metrics 4.

5. Serialized Documentation:

   • Break larger projects into smaller pieces with each decision documented to avoid overwhelming thresholds and ensuring every detail is captured. This method promotes a culture of continuous documentation 2.

6. Use of Frameworks:

   • Brian Armstrong illustrates using frameworks like Rapid R a P ID for organizational decision-making, ensuring clarity on who decides, gives input, and has veto power. This helps streamline decision processes in larger organizations 5.

By following these strategies, you can create a robust system for documenting decisions that aids in accountability, historical reference, and continuous improvement.