Decision Memo: Strategic option
Decision memo – options, evidence, reversibility
Mode d'emploi: Any consequential decision. Reversibility analysis tells you how much rigor the decision deserves.
Aperçu
Decision Memo: Strategic option
For any consequential team decision – pivot, pricing change, market entry, build-vs-buy. Writing forces clarity.
Date: YYYY-MM-DD · Author: @name · Decision needed by: YYYY-MM-DD
The decision
One sentence: the choice on the table.
Options
Option A – name
- What it is
- Cost: ...
- Upside if it works: ...
- Downside if it fails: ...
Option B – name
- Same structure
Option C – status quo
- What happens if we do nothing
Evidence
| Signal | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Metric / customer quote / market fact | Interpretation |
Reversibility
How hard to undo each option – reversible decisions can be fast; one-way doors need rigor.
Recommendation
The call + the reasoning in 3 sentences max.
If we do this, then
Immediate consequences: what gets deprioritized, who is affected, what we tell stakeholders.