methodatlas
Decision Making

Decision Rights Mapping

Moves options, criteria, and risks toward a concrete result through "identify key decision types", "collect roles", and "document and communicate the agreement".

Core question
Which role decides which type of decision, which roles are consulted before it, which are informed afterwards, and how do we make that binding?
MediumWorkshop90-180 min
Open runsheetPlan sessionStart comparison
Purpose

Helps clarify options, criteria, and risks in concrete terms. It separates options, evaluation criteria, and open risks. The result is captured as a Decision Rights matrix and an agreement.

How it works

The team follows the steps "identify key decision types", "collect roles", "assign Decide, Recommend, Input, and Inform for each decision", "discuss conflicts and overlaps", and "document and communicate the agreement". Each step is made visible. At the end, a Decision Rights matrix and an agreement are available so decisions, tests, or actions can continue directly.

Visual orientation

Method sketch for a quick mental model.

Decision Rights Mapping · Entscheidungsrechte klärenKonkrete Entscheidungstypen gegen Rollen mappen und je Entscheidung Decide, Recommend, Input und Inform explizit festlegen
Decision Rights MappingDas Visual zeigt Entscheidungstypen, Rollen und eine Matrix mit Decide, Recommend, Input und Inform sowie Vereinbarung und Kommunikation.Entscheidungsrechte sichtbar und zustimmungsfähig machenDie Matrix klärt, wer entscheidet, empfiehlt, Input gibt oder informiert wird, bevor Governance-Reibung eskaliert.Entscheidungstypenkonkrete wiederkehrende Entscheidungenstatt abstrakte Rollen startenDecision Rights MatrixProductTechLegalOpsScope ändernDRIIRelease stoppenRIIDPolicy-AusnahmeIRDIBudget verschiebenRIIDDecideRecommendInput / InformVereinbarungKonflikte, Doppel-Ds und Lückenexplizit klärenKommunizierenMatrix als gültigeEntscheidungsregel...erst Entscheidungen,dann Rollenkeine Entscheidung ohne genau ein DZustimmung amEnde einholen

Flow

  1. 1Identify key decision types
  2. 2Collect roles
  3. 3Assign Decide, Recommend, Input, and Inform for each decision
  4. 4Discuss conflicts and overlaps
  5. 5Document and communicate the agreement

The runsheet guides execution with 5 phases, timeboxes, 5 pitfalls, and clear stop criteria.

Open runsheet

Ideal for

  • Organizational design
  • Mergers
  • Crisis management

Not good for

  • Very stable small teams

Deep dive

In detail

Decision Rights Mapping extends frameworks such as RACI, RAPID, or DACI with a deliberate inventory of the most important decision types in an organization or team. It makes implicit assumptions about authority visible and reduces recurring escalations. It is often used in organizational design and transformation programs.

Facilitation

Start with concrete decisions, not with roles. Avoid vague pseudo-agreements. Ask for explicit consent at the end.

Output artifacts
Decision-Rights-MatrixVereinbarung
Tags
decisiongovernancealignmentresponsibility

Sources

RAPID Decision Making | Bain & Companybain.com
Artifact templates
Decision Rights Mapping Working TemplateCompact working template for Decision Rights Mapping with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
spreadsheet

decision-rights-mapping-working-template.md

Compact working template for Decision Rights Mapping with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.

Decision Rights Mapping Working Matrix

ElementDescriptionRatingEvidenceOwnerNext step
1
2
3

Output artifacts

  • Decision-Rights Matrix:
  • Agreement:

Decision or recommendation

What consequence follows from the matrix?

When to choose differently

Short decision aid for existing alternatives.

RACI Matrix

Statt Decision Rights Mapping, wenn ihr Verantwortlichkeiten entlang von Verantworten, Ausführen und Informieren sauber klären wollt.

Similar methods

All methods
Decision Making
DACI

Turns options, criteria, and risks into a tangible result by defining the decision, naming the driver and approver, and documenting decision and follow-up.

Decision Making
RAPID

Turns options, criteria, and risks into a tangible result by delimiting the decision, assigning RAPID roles, and documenting the decision and action steps.

Decision Making
Decision Framing Workshop

Turns options, criteria, and risks into a tangible result by framing the decision question, clarifying context and goals, and defining evidence needs and the next decision format.

Decision Making
Argument Mapping

Clarifies options, criteria, and risks by framing the central question, recording the main claim, and marking weak spots.

Decision Making
Cynefin Workshop

Turns options, criteria, and risks into a tangible result by collecting cases or challenges, explaining the Cynefin domains, and deriving the next actions.

Decision Making
Decision Matrix

Turns options, criteria, and risks into a tangible result by listing options, defining criteria, and checking result and sensitivity.