Decision Log

Append-only log of consequential decisions: context, options, choice, reversibility, owner.

# Decision Log A running, append-only log of consequential decisions. We add to it; we never edit history. If we change our mind, we add a new entry that supersedes the old. ## Why we keep this Three months from now, no one will remember why we picked [thing]. Six months from now, a new hire will ask "why did we do it this way?" â and absent this log, the answer will be invented post-hoc, which produces wrong answers. ## Decision template Copy this block for each entry. ``` ### DEC-[YYYY-MM-DD-NNN]: [Short title] - **Date:** [YYYY-MM-DD] - **Decider:** [Name(s)] - **Status:** [Active | Superseded by DEC-XXXX | Reversed] - **Reversibility:** [One-way door | Two-way door] - **Context:** [Why we needed to decide] - **Options considered:** - A: [option] â pros / cons - B: [option] â pros / cons - C: [option â usually status quo] â pros / cons - **Decision:** [Chosen option, declarative] - **Reasoning:** [1-3 sentences â what tipped the scale] - **Trigger for revisit:** [Condition that would make us revisit] ``` ## Active decisions ### DEC-[YYYY-MM-DD-001]: [Example title] - **Date:** [date] - **Decider:** [name] - **Status:** Active - **Reversibility:** Two-way door - **Context:** [...] - **Options considered:** [...] - **Decision:** [...] - **Reasoning:** [...] - **Trigger for revisit:** [...] ## Superseded decisions *Decisions still on the books but no longer the current policy. Keep for traceability.* ### DEC-[YYYY-MM-DD-002]: [Title] â superseded by DEC-XXX [Original entry, with a note pointing to the replacement.] ## Reversed decisions *Decisions we tried and unwound. Even more valuable than the active ones â they document what we learned.* ### DEC-[YYYY-MM-DD-003]: [Title] â reversed [date] [Original entry + reversal note: why, what we'd do differently.] ## Categorisation tags For larger orgs, tag decisions with the domain so they can be filtered: - `#architecture` - `#hiring` - `#pricing` - `#strategy` - `#vendor` - `#process`

Price: Free
State: approved