methodatlas
Method guideDecision Making

RAPID

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

ComplexityMedium
Time45-90 min
Participants3-12
FormatWorkshop + async
MaturityEstablished
Plan
01

Prerequisite

What needs to be finished first

Complete firstFinal authority

The decider holds authority and relevant resource rights.

Resolve competing D roles beforehand.
Complete firstBounded Agree

Every mandatory agreement right has a specific scope.

Not every affected person needs veto authority.
02

Preparation

What needs to be ready before start

Materials

Decision brief, RAPID matrix, evidenced alternatives, agreement conditions and execution plan.

People / roles

Recommend leads the recommendation; narrowly scoped Agree roles, Input experts, one Decide and named Perform owners.

Pre-read

Name one concrete decision with authority, deadline and mandatory conditions; narrowly scope required agreement rights.

Time needed

45–90 minutes for role clarification; decision and execution across further sessions

Setup

Place the decision brief beside the role matrix; record mandatory agreement areas and escalation before analysis.

03

Core question

The one question this method answers

Who recommends, must agree, provides input, decides and executes the decision?

04

Flow

Phases with goal, actions, output and pitfall

Bain’s RAPID separates Recommend, Agree, Perform, Input and Decide. The letters are roles, not a chronological sequence: a recommendation uses input and required agreement, a clearly named person decides, and Perform executes.

RAPID· worksheet

Fictional example

Bain’s RAPID separates Recommend, Agree, Perform, Input and Decide. The letters are roles, not a chronological sequence: a recommendation uses input and required agreement, a clearly named person decides, and Perform executes.

RAPID· worksheet
RolePerson or groupAuthority and responsibilityContribution and handover
R · RecommendWho develops the recommendation and alternatives?LeaCompare hosting options and justify recommendationProvider B with evidence to Amir
A · AgreeWho must agree within which bounded mandatory area?NoraAgreement on data processing, no general product vetoConfirm data location and processing before decision
P · PerformWho executes and which outcome is reviewed?Jan for operationsSet up environment, monitoring and recoveryProvisioning and test evidence by 20 November
I · InputWhat advice does Recommend need by when?Support and FinanceAssess outage consequences and cost assumptionsExpert input to Lea by Wednesday
D · DecideWhich single person decides finally and commits resources?AmirProvider selection and budget releaseDecision after required agreement by month end

  1. 1. Person or group

    R · Recommend
    Lea
    A · Agree
    Nora
    P · Perform
    Jan for operations
    I · Input
    Support and Finance
    D · Decide
    Amir

  2. 2. Authority and responsibility

    R · Recommend
    Compare hosting options and justify recommendation
    A · Agree
    Agreement on data processing, no general product veto
    P · Perform
    Set up environment, monitoring and recovery
    I · Input
    Assess outage consequences and cost assumptions
    D · Decide
    Provider selection and budget release

  3. 3. Contribution and handover

    R · Recommend
    Provider B with evidence to Amir
    A · Agree
    Confirm data location and processing before decision
    P · Perform
    Provisioning and test evidence by 20 November
    I · Input
    Expert input to Lea by Wednesday
    D · Decide
    Decision after required agreement by month end

Fictional: choose a hosting provider for a course platform by month end within an €8,000 annual budget. Amir selects B subject to the agreed data location. Jan provisions by 20 November; recovery test and monthly cost are checked at review.

Bain & Company: RAPID decision roles

  1. 1

    Brief

    Decision brief

    Goal

    Bounded decision

    Inputs for this step

    • Decision need
    • Authority and limits

    Actions

    • Bound the question, deadline, discretion and mandatory conditions.
    • Separate decisions that require different authority.

    Output

    Bounded decision

    Do decision scope and authority match?

    Quality check

    Do decision scope and authority match?

    Pitfall

    An operational role is expected to decide cross-functional budgets. Align the brief with the appropriate decision level.

    Timing: 10–15 minutes

  2. 2

    Rights

    Agree RAPID rights

    Goal

    Confirmed RAPID matrix

    Inputs for this step

    • Decision
    • Stakeholders and mandatory checks

    Actions

    • Assign Recommend, Input, Agree, Decide and Perform with specific responsibilities; set one final D role.
    • Limit Agree to mandatory sign-offs and agree escalation for disagreement.

    Output

    Confirmed RAPID matrix

    Is every Agree right bounded by subject?

    Quality check

    Is every Agree right bounded by subject?

    Pitfall

    Every stakeholder receives Agree and a broad veto. Assign advisory contributions to Input and justify mandatory sign-offs.

    Timing: 15–25 minutes

  3. 3

    Recommend

    Recommendation and agreement

    Goal

    Aligned recommendation

    Inputs for this step

    • RAPID matrix
    • Options and evidence

    Actions

    • Recommend gathers input, compares alternatives and develops a reasoned recommendation.
    • Agree checks its mandatory area; revise unresolved objections or escalate through the agreed route.

    Output

    Aligned recommendation

    Are mandatory agreements and open objections traceable?

    Quality check

    Are mandatory agreements and open objections traceable?

    Pitfall

    Input is mistaken for binding agreement. Record advice and required sign-off separately.

    Timing: 30–60 minutes

  4. 4

    Decide

    Make the decision

    Goal

    Binding decision

    Inputs for this step

    • Recommendation
    • Required agreements

    Actions

    • Decide makes the final choice with rationale and states conditions or rejected options.
    • Record the decision and communicate it clearly to implementers.

    Output

    Binding decision

    Is the choice explicit and documented for communication?

    Quality check

    Is the choice explicit and documented for communication?

    Pitfall

    A recommendation is silently treated as the decision. Obtain explicit confirmation from Decide.

    Timing: 15–30 minutes

  5. 5

    Perform

    Execute and review

    Goal

    Executed decision with review

    Inputs for this step

    • Decision
    • Resources and Perform owners

    Actions

    • Perform takes ownership of execution steps, resources and feedback; surface blockers to Decide early.
    • After execution, review the result and decision process.

    Output

    Executed decision with review

    Are execution ownership and review signal agreed?

    Quality check

    Are execution ownership and review signal agreed?

    Pitfall

    Nobody feels responsible for execution after the decision. Confirm Perform through a named person, date and outcome.

    Timing: 15–30 minutes

05

Artifact

What comes out at the end

Sketch: what the artifact looks like

RAPID · Decision Roles (Bain)Assign Recommend, Agree, Perform, Input, and Decide so recommendation, decision, and execution remain clearly separated
RAPIDThe visual shows the RAPID roles Input, Agree, Recommend, Decide, and Perform as a decision flow.Separate recommendation, agreement, decision, and executionRAPID reduces decision gridlock by giving each role in the decision flow a distinct task.scoperecommendationdecisionexecutionDecisionpricing changeIInputprovides data andperspectivesAAgreemust agree or clarifyconcernsRRecommendcreates therecommendationDDecidemakes the finalchoicePPerformimplements thedecision
Form

RAPID matrix and traceable recommendation with agreements, explicit decision and verifiable execution handover.

Versioning / ownership

Record date and scope; retain the previous version and reason when changing it.

Tool alternatives
  • RAPID table
  • Decision document in a wiki
  • Workshop board with roles and handovers

rapid-working-template.md

Name one concrete decision with authority, deadline and mandatory conditions; narrowly scope required agreement rights.

RAPID: Worksheet

Question

To be confirmed

Desired outcome

To be confirmed

Scope

Complete cycle Time: 45–90 minutes for role clarification; decision and execution across further sessions

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

Preparation for this scope

Method setup

  • Materials: Decision brief, RAPID matrix, evidenced alternatives, agreement conditions and execution plan.
  • Roles: Recommend leads the recommendation; narrowly scoped Agree roles, Input experts, one Decide and named Perform owners.
  • Advance information: Name one concrete decision with authority, deadline and mandatory conditions; narrowly scope required agreement rights.
  • Overall time needed: 45–90 minutes for role clarification; decision and execution across further sessions
  • Setup: Place the decision brief beside the role matrix; record mandatory agreement areas and escalation before analysis.

Prepare for the work steps

Brief: Decision brief

  • Decision need
  • Authority and limits

Rights: Agree RAPID rights

  • Decision
  • Stakeholders and mandatory checks

Recommend: Recommendation and agreement

  • RAPID matrix
  • Options and evidence

Decide: Make the decision

  • Recommendation
  • Required agreements

Perform: Execute and review

  • Decision
  • Resources and Perform owners

RAPID· worksheet

RolePerson or groupAuthority and responsibilityContribution and handover
R · Recommend
A · Agree
P · Perform
I · Input
D · Decide
  • R · Recommend: Who develops the recommendation and alternatives?
  • A · Agree: Who must agree within which bounded mandatory area?
  • P · Perform: Who executes and which outcome is reviewed?
  • I · Input: What advice does Recommend need by when?
  • D · Decide: Which single person decides finally and commits resources?

Agree people, rights and handovers per role. Narrowly scope Agree; exactly one final Decide. I means Input; acronym order is not a workflow.

Bain & Company: RAPID decision roles

Brief: Decision brief

Expected artifact: Bounded decision

Do decision scope and authority match?

Entry:

...

  • Do decision scope and authority match?

Rights: Agree RAPID rights

Expected artifact: Confirmed RAPID matrix

Is every Agree right bounded by subject?

Entry:

...

  • Is every Agree right bounded by subject?

Recommend: Recommendation and agreement

Expected artifact: Aligned recommendation

Are mandatory agreements and open objections traceable?

Entry:

...

  • Are mandatory agreements and open objections traceable?

Decide: Make the decision

Expected artifact: Binding decision

Is the choice explicit and documented for communication?

Entry:

...

  • Is the choice explicit and documented for communication?

Perform: Execute and review

Expected artifact: Executed decision with review

Are execution ownership and review signal agreed?

Entry:

...

  • Are execution ownership and review signal agreed?

Open questions and next steps

...

Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/rapid/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.

rapid-beispiel.md

Concrete filled scenario, fictional example

Fictional example

Decision question: Fictional: choose a hosting provider for a course platform by month end within an €8,000 annual budget.

R · Recommend: Platform lead Lea compares three providers and recommends provider B with cost and operating evidence.

A · Agree: Privacy owner Nora agrees to personal-data processing; other product preferences are outside her Agree right.

P · Perform: Operations, represented by Jan, sets up the environment and monitoring and tests recovery.

I · Input: Support describes outage consequences; Finance checks cost assumptions by Wednesday.

D · Decide: Department lead Amir decides after mandatory agreement and releases the budget.

Decision and handover: Amir selects B subject to the agreed data location. Jan provisions by 20 November; recovery test and monthly cost are checked at review.

07

Pitfalls

Recognize symptoms and steer against them

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

  1. Decision briefAn operational role is expected to decide cross-functional budgets.View in phase
  2. Agree RAPID rightsEvery stakeholder receives Agree and a broad veto.View in phase
  3. Recommendation and agreementInput is mistaken for binding agreement.View in phase
  4. Make the decisionA recommendation is silently treated as the decision.View in phase
  5. Execute and reviewNobody feels responsible for execution after the decision.View in phase
08

Stop criteria

When to pause, resolve prerequisites, or choose another approach

Unclear Agree rights or multiple D roles block decisions: clarify scope and escalation before preparing the recommendation.

Method after Bain & Company. Curated with 1 sources.

Sources: Bain & Company: RAPID decision roles

Flow, timeboxes, and pitfalls are editorially curated practice recommendations based on the listed sources.

Where to go next?

Paper illustration for Communication Plan
Delivery
Communication Plan

Carries the implemented decision out to every affected audience.

Paper illustration of a review with planned work, actual event sequence, comparison, and assigned improvement actions.
Operations
After-Action Review

Reviews after implementation how well the decision process itself worked.

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

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