methodatlas
Method guideDecision Making

Decision Rights Mapping

A practical method guide: clarify prerequisites and materials, understand the complete process, and look up outputs, pitfalls, and stop criteria.

ComplexityMedium
Time90-180 min
Participants4-12
FormatWorkshop
MaturityEstablished
Plan Decision Rights Mapping
01

Prerequisite

What needs to be finished first

Complete firstBounded subject

The scope and purpose of Decision Rights Mapping are stated as a concrete question.

Without scope, RAPID decision map becomes arbitrary.
Complete firstAccess to relevant perspectives

Critical decision list, Involved roles, Governance and approval obligations and domain decision makers are available.

Without these perspectives, central claims in RAPID decision map remain unsupported.
02

Preparation

What needs to be ready before start

Materials

Critical decision list, Involved roles, Governance and approval obligations, shared workspace, source links, and decision log.

People / roles

Facilitator · process owner · current decision makers · affected performers

Pre-read

Collect Critical decision list, Involved roles, Governance and approval obligations in advance and mark open assumptions.

Time needed

45–75 minutes for 3–5 decisions

Setup

Prepare a RAPID matrix per clearly framed decision with exactly one D role visibly and calibrate assessment terms before starting.

03

Core question

The one question this method answers

Who recommends, provides input, must agree, decides once, and performs this specific decision?

04

Flow

Phases with goal, actions, output and pitfall

RAPID clarifies decision roles. A decision has exactly one D and generally one lead R. Agree is used sparingly for genuine approval obligations; Input contributes relevant knowledge and Perform executes the decision.

RAPID decision map

Fictional worked example

a RAPID matrix per clearly framed decision with exactly one D role as a precise working structure with a fictional example.

RAPID decision map
DecisionDecisionR: RecommendI/A: Input and AgreeD: DecideP: Perform and transition
Enterprise pricingRAPID assignmentApprove enterprise price for 1 October launch; decide 15 August.Product Lead with Finance model.I: Sales, CS; A: Legal for contract clauses only.GM Product.Billing and Sales Ops; reopen at >10% cost variance.

  1. 1. Decision

    Enterprise pricing
    Approve enterprise price for 1 October launch; decide 15 August.

  2. 2. R: Recommend

    Enterprise pricing
    Product Lead with Finance model.

  3. 3. I/A: Input and Agree

    Enterprise pricing
    I: Sales, CS; A: Legal for contract clauses only.

  4. 4. D: Decide

    Enterprise pricing
    GM Product.

  5. 5. P: Perform and transition

    Enterprise pricing
    Billing and Sales Ops; reopen at >10% cost variance.

The example demonstrates the domain logic of Decision Rights Mapping; worksheets remain blank.

Bain & Company: The Five Steps to Better Decisions

  1. 1

    Select decisions

    Select decisions

    Goal

    Produce decision list so the core question “Who recommends, provides input, must agree, decides once, and performs this specific decision?” can be answered with stronger support.

    Inputs for this step

    • Critical decision list
    • Involved roles
    • Governance and approval obligations

    Actions

    • Frame the 3–5 value-critical decisions as explicit choices.
    • Record source, rationale, and open uncertainty directly in decision list.

    Output

    decision list

    decision list · source · uncertainty · next decision

    Quality check

    Does each row have a clear subject, decision date, and scope?

    Pitfall

    Broad topics such as strategy or pricing are entered instead of concrete decisions. Restore the missing basis, correct the claim, and repeat the step with visible rationale.

    Timing: 10–20 minutes

  2. 2

    Assign RAPID

    Assign RAPID

    Goal

    Produce RAPID assignment so the core question “Who recommends, provides input, must agree, decides once, and performs this specific decision?” can be answered with stronger support.

    Inputs for this step

    • decision list
    • Involved roles
    • Governance and approval obligations

    Actions

    • Assign R, I, A, D, and P; ensure exactly one D and only genuine A roles.
    • Record source, rationale, and open uncertainty directly in RAPID assignment.

    Output

    RAPID assignment

    RAPID assignment · source · uncertainty · next decision

    Quality check

    Is there exactly one D and a clear lead R?

    Pitfall

    Multiple D or A roles create de facto vetoes and extend the decision. Restore the missing basis, correct the claim, and repeat the step with visible rationale.

    Timing: 10–20 minutes

  3. 3

    Install process

    Install process

    Goal

    Produce decision process so the core question “Who recommends, provides input, must agree, decides once, and performs this specific decision?” can be answered with stronger support.

    Inputs for this step

    • RAPID assignment
    • Involved roles
    • Governance and approval obligations

    Actions

    • Set inputs, milestones, decision forum, communication, and reopening rule.
    • Record source, rationale, and open uncertainty directly in decision process.

    Output

    decision process

    decision process · source · uncertainty · next decision

    Quality check

    Is it clear when input closes, D decides, and P begins?

    Pitfall

    The letters are mapped, but no date or binding transition to execution exists. Restore the missing basis, correct the claim, and repeat the step with visible rationale.

    Timing: 10–20 minutes

05

Artifact

What comes out at the end

Sketch: what the artifact looks like

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
Form

Versioned RAPID decision map with date, sources, owners, and next review.

Versioning / ownership

Retain date, source, assumption state, and decision for every version of RAPID decision map.

Tool alternatives
  • RAPID decision map as board or document
  • Source and evidence register
  • Decision and action log

decision-rights-mapping-working-template.md

Plan Decision Rights Mapping around its domain steps and the concrete decision question.

Decision Rights Mapping: Worksheet

Question

To be confirmed

Desired outcome

To be confirmed

Scope

Full workshop Time: 45–75 minutes for 3–5 decisions

Complete this worksheet on paper or in your own document during the work.

Preparation for this scope

Method setup

  • Materials: Critical decision list, Involved roles, Governance and approval obligations, shared workspace, source links, and decision log.
  • Roles: Facilitator · process owner · current decision makers · affected performers
  • Advance information: Collect Critical decision list, Involved roles, Governance and approval obligations in advance and mark open assumptions.
  • Overall time needed: 45–75 minutes for 3–5 decisions
  • Setup: Prepare a RAPID matrix per clearly framed decision with exactly one D role visibly and calibrate assessment terms before starting.

Prepare for the work steps

Select decisions: Select decisions

  • Critical decision list
  • Involved roles
  • Governance and approval obligations

Assign RAPID: Assign RAPID

  • decision list
  • Involved roles
  • Governance and approval obligations

Install process: Install process

  • RAPID assignment
  • Involved roles
  • Governance and approval obligations

RAPID decision map

DecisionVerb + subject + scope + dateWho develops the evidence-based recommendation?Relevant inputs · genuine approval obligationsExactly one role with final authorityPerformers · start · communication · reopen trigger
Enterprise pricing
  • Enterprise pricing: RAPID assignment

Enter only real input, sources, and decisions.

Bain & Company: The Five Steps to Better Decisions

Select decisions: Select decisions

Expected artifact: decision list

decision list · source · uncertainty · next decision

Entry:

...

  • Does each row have a clear subject, decision date, and scope?

Assign RAPID: Assign RAPID

Expected artifact: RAPID assignment

RAPID assignment · source · uncertainty · next decision

Entry:

...

  • Is there exactly one D and a clear lead R?

Install process: Install process

Expected artifact: decision process

decision process · source · uncertainty · next decision

Entry:

...

  • Is it clear when input closes, D decides, and P begins?

Open questions and next steps

...

Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/decision-rights-mapping/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.

decision-rights-mapping-beispiel.md

Concrete filled scenario, fictional example

Fictional example: decision 'Approve enterprise price for 1 October'. R: Product Lead prepares the recommendation with Finance input. I: Sales and Customer Success. A: Legal only for contract clauses. D: GM Product. P: Billing and Sales Operations. Decision date 15 August; reopen only for >10% cost variance or new regulation.

07

Pitfalls

Recognize symptoms and steer against them

Quick overview, the full text is in the matching phase in the flow

  1. Select decisionsBroad topics such as strategy or pricing are entered instead of concrete decisions.View in phase
  2. Assign RAPIDMultiple D or A roles create de facto vetoes and extend the decision.View in phase
  3. Install processThe letters are mapped, but no date or binding transition to execution exists.View in phase
08

Stop criteria

When to pause, resolve prerequisites, or choose another approach

RAPID decision map answers the core question with traceable evidence or explicitly marked uncertainty.
Owners, next actions, and review dates are named for open points.

Where to go next?

Paper illustration of an activity-role table with clear RACI assignments and one highlighted accountable role per activity.
Operations
RACI Matrix

Carries the clarified decision roles into operational task allocation.

Paper illustration for Communication Plan
Delivery
Communication Plan

Communicates the agreed decision process to all roles involved.

View in playbookSet Up Decision GovernanceMove from decision bottlenecks to roles, rights, escalation paths, and documented decisions.

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