APPLY
Compare options and record a decision
Connect a choice to reasons, evidence, and revisit conditions.
Start here
Architecture decision records
Preserve why a consequential choice was made and what follows from it.
A decision record preserves the context, chosen option, and consequences. A pyramid can organize the explanation. For recurring decisions driven by conditions, a decision table may be more useful than a one-off record.
This recommendation fits when
You are selecting an approach and need the reason to survive beyond the conversation.
Choose differently when
Use DMN for repeatable rule evaluation; use a decision record for the choice of those rules and their rationale.
A practical route
- State the decision and the constraints.
- Compare real alternatives against the same criteria.
- Separate observed evidence from assumptions.
- Record consequences and when the decision should be revisited.
Useful companions
Minto Pyramid Principle
Organize a business explanation around one main point supported by logically grouped reasons.
DMN & decision tables
Represent how input conditions produce an explicit decision outcome.
This is an editorial recommendation for the stated situation. It is not a personalized diagnosis or a ranking of all methods.