Write a One-Page Decision Memo
Added 2026-11-04
Decision, options, costs and recommendation on one page.
I need a one-page decision memo for a board or leadership team (context below). Do: 1) first paragraph — what must be decided and why now; 2) two or three options with costs and risks; 3) the recommended option and why; 4) what happens if nothing is decided; 5) what resources or authority must be approved; 6) the point most likely to be challenged. Do not write a status report.
Site original
Chinese original
How to use
决策备忘的主角是「选项与代价」，不是背景介绍。
Try tweaking it
- Have it state how the hypothesis could be falsified before discussing execution.
- Split the plan into a one-week testable experiment.
What you should get
- A small testable experiment with a failure threshold
- Costs, risks, and what needs outside confirmation
Common mistakes
- Asking for a "full business plan" and getting unverifiable optimistic assumptions.
- No failure threshold, so you never know whether to continue.
How to check the output
- There is a clear failure threshold, testable within a week.
- Costs, assumptions and risks are listed separately.
Where it works
- Good for: turning business assumptions into a small testable experiment with a failure threshold first.
- Watch out: for pricing, contracts and legal points, treat output as a draft needing professional review.