Leadership, Modern MBA, Strategy
How to write a decision memo that survives disagreement
The purpose of a decision memo is not to make a proposal look inevitable. It is to make the reasoning inspectable.
State the decision
Open with the exact decision requested and the date or condition by which it matters.
Separate facts and assumptions
Facts can still be uncertain, but assumptions deserve their own label. This makes disagreement productive because people can challenge the right layer.
Show alternatives
A recommendation is stronger when readers can see realistic alternatives, including doing nothing.
Document the tradeoff
Explain what the chosen path optimizes and what it knowingly gives up. Good decisions often involve acceptable disadvantages.
Continue the system
Keep exploring
Put it to work
Turn the idea into an operating move.
Continue with a practical resource, a structured system, or an advisory conversation when context matters.
