Recording why, not only what.
WHY IT MATTERS
Decisions are revisited endlessly because nobody recorded the reasoning.
WHAT THAT COSTS
The same debate repeated Decisions reversed without knowing why they were made New people questioning settled matters
WHAT TO RECORD FOR A SIGNIFICANT DECISION
What was decided When Who decided What the options were Why this one was chosen What was assumed What would cause it to be revisited
WHY THE ASSUMPTIONS SPECIFICALLY
They are what changes, and they are what makes revisiting legitimate.
WHY THE OPTIONS CONSIDERED
It prevents someone proposing an option already rejected for good reason.
WHAT DECISIONS TO RECORD
Anything expensive to reverse Anything that will be questioned Anything where the reasoning is not obvious
WHAT NOT TO RECORD
Routine operational decisions.
HOW LONG THE RECORD SHOULD BE
Short. A few paragraphs.
WHERE TO KEEP IT
Somewhere findable, with the related material.
WHAT TO DO WHEN A DECISION IS REVISITED
Read the original record first.
WHY
It frequently answers the question.
WHAT TO DO IF CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED
Record the new decision, referencing the old.
WHY REFERENCE IT
It shows the history rather than replacing it.
WHAT THIS PREVENTS
Repeating mistakes already made and understood.
WHAT IT ALSO PROVIDES
Evidence that decisions were considered.
WHY THAT MATTERS
It protects those who made them.
