Session Brief: Decision Framing Workshop

Goal

Artifact: Decision Frame

Working Question

Is everyone discussing the same decision with the same options, criteria, and roles?

Context

Scope, purpose, known facts, relevant constraints, existing options or events, and expected meeting outcome.

Setup

• Format: Method session
• Duration: 60-120 min
• Mode: Workshop
• Participants: Facilitator; subject-matter experts from the affected area; an owner for outcome and follow-up; for decisions, a named decider.
• Owner: Facilitator
• Participation mode: Team round, shared work and alignment
• Outcome logic: Finish artifact

Participation Logic

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome Logic

The session works directly toward Decision Frame. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

Input

Working board or document for Decision Frame; existing notes, data, decisions, and assumptions; markers for uncertainty, owner, and next steps.

Preparation

Prepare empty Decision Frame template. Make scope and working question visible at the top. Mark each assumption as assumption, never as fact.

Agenda

1. Fix scope (10-20 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Define purpose, objective, and boundaries. Collect out-of-scope topics on a parking lot. Hint: A narrow scope produces better results than a broad but diffuse sweep. Output: Decision Frame

2. Collect raw material (20-40 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Gather and surface facts, events, options, constraints, and assumptions. Hint: Keep facts and interpretations separate. Mark uncertainty instead of smoothing over it. Output: Decision Question

3. Build structure (30-60 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Fill the Decision Frame step by step, clarify relationships between elements, and expose contradictions. Hint: Do not evaluate too early. Stabilize structure first, then draw conclusions. Output: Criteria List

4. Review and refine (20-40 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Mark gaps, weak assumptions, counterexamples, and critical paths. Check outcome for clarity. Hint: If nobody can explain the logic in two minutes, the artifact is not ready yet. Output: Evidence Plan

5. Define next steps (15-20 min) Owner: Owner Action: Document decision, experiment, test, action, or follow-up with owner and date. Hint: A strong artifact without next action becomes knowledge work without impact. Output: Decision Frame

6. Publish artifact (10 min) Owner: Owner Action: Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients. Output: Decision Frame

Closeout

• Update result artifact: Decision Frame
• Define location, version, and review recipients.
• Define owner, next step, and review date.

Decision Frame: Decision Framing Workshop

Working Question

Is everyone discussing the same decision with the same options, criteria, and roles?

Context

Scope, purpose, known facts, relevant constraints, existing options or events, and expected meeting outcome.

Participants

• Owner: Facilitator
• Participants: Facilitator; subject-matter experts from the affected area; an owner for outcome and follow-up; for decisions, a named decider.

Input

Working board or document for Decision Frame; existing notes, data, decisions, and assumptions; markers for uncertainty, owner, and next steps.

Template

Decision Frame: Topic

Decision question

What decision needs to be made now?

Context

Why is the decision needed, what happens without it?

Decider and roles

• Decider:
• Input:
• Reviewer:
• Informed:

Options

1. ...
2. ...
3. ...

Criteria

• ...

Constraints

• ...

Evidence needed

What data, tests, or reviews are still missing?

Next step

Owner, date, format.

Completion Check

• Decision Frame is complete enough for review:
• Location:
• Version / status:
• Review by:
• Next step:

Next Step

• Review result
• Mark open questions
• Schedule review or decision