01 / Frame
Write the decision as a bounded question.
Name what needs to be chosen, who is responsible for the decision and which part of the work is in scope. Distinguish the decision from the broader topic that surrounds it.
Describe the intended difference in observable terms. If the question contains several unrelated changes, choose one comparison to begin with.
02 / Criteria
Agree on what matters before ranking the options.
List the considerations that could change the choice: practical effort, ownership, continuity, reversibility or another requirement specific to the situation.
Clarify the meaning of each criterion and identify any non-negotiable constraint. Avoid using a vague label such as “better” without explaining what the team would actually notice.
03 / Compare
Give each option the same examination.
Include meaningful alternatives, including a small clarification or keeping the current approach when appropriate. Ask the same criterion-based questions of each one.
Separate what has been observed from what is predicted. Name the source of an observation and the assumption behind a prediction so both remain available for review.
04 / Recommend
State the choice and the trade-off it accepts.
Explain which criteria mattered most and which evidence supports the recommendation. Name a limitation that the chosen option does not remove.
Describe the scope, the responsible role and the next action. Keep a small trial distinct from a wider commitment so readers understand what is actually being proposed.
05 / Review
Decide what would bring the choice back.
Name the observation, event or agreed moment that will justify a review. Identify who will gather the relevant information and where it will be kept.
When the review arrives, return to the original question. Record what changed in the evidence or the circumstances before choosing the smallest useful next adjustment.