Complete firstDecision mandate
One Approver genuinely has authority to make the bounded decision.
Resolve the mandate first if several people claim final authority.
Method guideDecision Making
DACI
A practical method guide: clarify prerequisites and materials, understand the complete process, and look up outputs, pitfalls, and stop criteria.
ComplexityLow
Time30-60 min
Participants2-10
FormatWorkshop + async
MaturityEstablished
01
Prerequisite
What needs to be finished first
Complete firstDecidable question
Options, decision date and relevant constraints are known.
Split a vague initiative into concrete decisions.
02
Preparation
What needs to be ready before start
Materials
Decision document, DACI role matrix, options, evidence and deadlines for input and decision.
People / roles
One Driver, one Approver, relevant Contributors and named Informed stakeholders.
Pre-read
Frame a decidable question, deadline and scope; the person holding final authority must be available.
Time needed
30–60 minutes for role clarification; input and decision may span sessions
Setup
Open a decision document with question and deadline; confirm roles together before collecting options.
03
Core question
The one question this method answers
Who drives this decision, who decides, who provides input and who needs to know the result?
04
Flow
Phases with goal, actions, output and pitfall
DACI clarifies four roles for a specific decision: the Driver runs the process, exactly one Approver decides, Contributors provide expertise and Informed receive the result. A Driver does not automatically hold decision authority.
DACI· worksheet
Fictional example
DACI clarifies four roles for a specific decision: the Driver runs the process, exactly one Approver decides, Contributors provide expertise and Informed receive the result. A Driver does not automatically hold decision authority.
| Role | Person or group | Authority and responsibility | Contribution and handover |
|---|---|---|---|
| D · DriverWho drives the process with which deadlines? | Lea | Run process, gather input, maintain record | Options to Amir by Wednesday |
| A · ApproverWhich single person may make the final decision? | Amir | Choose form or vendor portal within budget | Reasoned decision on Friday |
| C · ContributorsWhat expert input is needed by when? | Nora and Jan | Assess privacy and operations; no additional veto | Assessments to Lea by Wednesday |
| I · InformedWho receives the result when and through which channel? | Course leads and support | Know the decision and account for local consequences | Project channel on Friday with rationale |
1. Person or group
- D · Driver
- Lea
- A · Approver
- Amir
- C · Contributors
- Nora and Jan
- I · Informed
- Course leads and support
2. Authority and responsibility
- D · Driver
- Run process, gather input, maintain record
- A · Approver
- Choose form or vendor portal within budget
- C · Contributors
- Assess privacy and operations; no additional veto
- I · Informed
- Know the decision and account for local consequences
3. Contribution and handover
- D · Driver
- Options to Amir by Wednesday
- A · Approver
- Reasoned decision on Friday
- C · Contributors
- Assessments to Lea by Wednesday
- I · Informed
- Project channel on Friday with rationale
Fictional: by Friday choose between an internal booking form and a vendor portal; criteria are cost, privacy and operating effort. Amir selects the internal form because operating capability already exists. Jan implements by month end; unresolved privacy issues trigger reconsideration before launch.
- 1
Bound the decision
Bound the decision
Goal
Decision brief
Inputs for this step
- Reason
- Options and constraints
Actions
- Record a specific decision question, deadline, options and constraints.
- Define success criteria so contributions can be compared.
Output
Decision brief
Can the question be answered unambiguously at the end?
Quality check
Can the question be answered unambiguously at the end?
Pitfall
The whole project is treated as one decision. Isolate a specific choice with a clear boundary.
Timing: 10–15 minutes
- 2
Assign D, A, C and I
Assign D, A, C and I
Goal
Confirmed DACI matrix
Inputs for this step
- Decision brief
- Stakeholders and mandates
Actions
- Name one Driver for process and information gathering and exactly one Approver for the decision.
- Select Contributors and Informed deliberately and confirm responsibilities.
Output
Confirmed DACI matrix
Is exactly one Approver named with actual authority?
Quality check
Is exactly one Approver named with actual authority?
Pitfall
Driver and Approver each expect the other to decide. Explicitly separate process leadership and final authority.
Timing: 10–20 minutes
- 3
Prepare input and options
Prepare input and options
Goal
Decision-ready options
Inputs for this step
- DACI matrix
- Expert input and evidence
Actions
- Driver gathers input by the agreed deadline and records benefits, risks and open questions per option.
- Approver clarifies information needs; dissent remains visible.
Output
Decision-ready options
Can the Approver compare options using the same criteria?
Quality check
Can the Approver compare options using the same criteria?
Pitfall
Endless consultation replaces the decision. Bound the input period and name remaining uncertainty for the Approver.
Timing: 30–60 minutes
- 4
Decide and communicate
Decide and communicate
Goal
Recorded decision
Inputs for this step
- Options
- Approver and Driver
Actions
- Approver decides with rationale; Driver records outcome, date and open conditions.
- Notify Informed and clarify implementation, ownership and reopening triggers.
Output
Recorded decision
Are decision, implementation and communication recorded distinctly?
Quality check
Are decision, implementation and communication recorded distinctly?
Pitfall
A meeting ends with assumed agreement. Have the Approver explicitly confirm the decision and record it.
Timing: 15–30 minutes
05
Artifact
What comes out at the end
Sketch: what the artifact looks like
Form
DACI matrix and decision record with question, options, rationale, date, communication and implementation ownership.
Versioning / ownership
Record date and scope; retain the previous version and reason when changing it.
Tool alternatives
- DACI document template
- Role matrix in a wiki
- Project board with decision log
daci-working-template.md
Frame a decidable question, deadline and scope; the person holding final authority must be available.
DACI: Worksheet
Question
To be confirmed
Desired outcome
To be confirmed
Scope
Complete cycle Time: 30–60 minutes for role clarification; input and decision may span sessions
Complete this worksheet on paper or in your own document during the work.
Preparation for this scope
Method setup
- Materials: Decision document, DACI role matrix, options, evidence and deadlines for input and decision.
- Roles: One Driver, one Approver, relevant Contributors and named Informed stakeholders.
- Advance information: Frame a decidable question, deadline and scope; the person holding final authority must be available.
- Overall time needed: 30–60 minutes for role clarification; input and decision may span sessions
- Setup: Open a decision document with question and deadline; confirm roles together before collecting options.
Prepare for the work steps
Bound the decision: Bound the decision
- Reason
- Options and constraints
Assign D, A, C and I: Assign D, A, C and I
- Decision brief
- Stakeholders and mandates
Prepare input and options: Prepare input and options
- DACI matrix
- Expert input and evidence
Decide and communicate: Decide and communicate
- Options
- Approver and Driver
DACI· worksheet
| Role | Person or group | Authority and responsibility | Contribution and handover |
|---|---|---|---|
| D · Driver | |||
| A · Approver | |||
| C · Contributors | |||
| I · Informed |
- D · Driver: Who drives the process with which deadlines?
- A · Approver: Which single person may make the final decision?
- C · Contributors: What expert input is needed by when?
- I · Informed: Who receives the result when and through which channel?
Enter your own people, authority and handovers per role. Name exactly one Approver. Driver runs the process; Contributors provide input.
Bound the decision: Bound the decision
Expected artifact: Decision brief
Can the question be answered unambiguously at the end?
Entry:
...
- Can the question be answered unambiguously at the end?
Assign D, A, C and I: Assign D, A, C and I
Expected artifact: Confirmed DACI matrix
Is exactly one Approver named with actual authority?
Entry:
...
- Is exactly one Approver named with actual authority?
Prepare input and options: Prepare input and options
Expected artifact: Decision-ready options
Can the Approver compare options using the same criteria?
Entry:
...
- Can the Approver compare options using the same criteria?
Decide and communicate: Decide and communicate
Expected artifact: Recorded decision
Are decision, implementation and communication recorded distinctly?
Entry:
...
- Are decision, implementation and communication recorded distinctly?
Open questions and next steps
...
Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/daci/run-sheet
06
Example output
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Fictional example for orientation. Counts and timings describe this case and are not universal requirements.
daci-beispiel.md
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Fictional example
Decision question: Fictional: by Friday choose between an internal booking form and a vendor portal; criteria are cost, privacy and operating effort.
D · Driver: Lea gathers options by Wednesday and organises the decision.
A · Approver: Department lead Amir decides on Friday within the approved budget.
C · Contributors: Nora examines privacy, Jan operations and support; both provide assessments by Wednesday.
I · Informed: Course leads and support receive Friday’s reasoned decision in the project channel.
Decision and follow-through: Amir selects the internal form because operating capability already exists. Jan implements by month end; unresolved privacy issues trigger reconsideration before launch.
07
Pitfalls
Recognize symptoms and steer against them
Quick overview, the full text is in the matching phase in the flow
- Bound the decisionThe whole project is treated as one decision.View in phase
- Assign D, A, C and IDriver and Approver each expect the other to decide.View in phase
- Prepare input and optionsEndless consultation replaces the decision.View in phase
- Decide and communicateA meeting ends with assumed agreement.View in phase
Trap
Bound the decision
Symptom
The whole project is treated as one decision.
What to do
Isolate a specific choice with a clear boundary.
Trap
Assign D, A, C and I
Symptom
Driver and Approver each expect the other to decide.
What to do
Explicitly separate process leadership and final authority.
Trap
Prepare input and options
Symptom
Endless consultation replaces the decision.
What to do
Bound the input period and name remaining uncertainty for the Approver.
Trap
Decide and communicate
Symptom
A meeting ends with assumed agreement.
What to do
Have the Approver explicitly confirm the decision and record it.
08
Stop criteria
When to pause, resolve prerequisites, or choose another approach
If there is no clear Approver, pause the decision process and resolve authority. Contributors provide input, not an additional veto.
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