---
name: decision-brief
description: Turn messy notes, documents, spreadsheets, or analysis into a decision-ready brief. Use when the user asks for a recommendation, decision memo, options paper, executive brief, or help making a choice from incomplete information.
license: MIT
---

# Decision brief

Turn the source material the user identifies into a short brief for the person who must make the decision.

## Before you write

1. Read only the files or text the user has identified.
2. Name the decision in one sentence. If it is unclear, write a provisional decision statement and say what needs clarifying.
3. Separate:
   - facts supported by the source material
   - calculations you derived from those facts
   - assumptions or claims that still need evidence
4. Record the source for every important fact or number. Use the filename, sheet or section when available.
5. Identify the decision owner and the date the decision is needed. Leave either blank when the source does not say.

## Build the brief

Use this order:

### Decision

One sentence stating the choice that must be made.

### Why now

The event, deadline, cost or risk that makes a decision necessary.

### What we know

Only evidence supported by the supplied material. Cite the source beside each important point.

### What we are assuming

List every assumption that could change the recommendation. Say how it could be checked.

### Options

Include the current approach when it is a real option. For each option, state:
- what changes
- likely benefit
- cost or trade-off
- evidence gap
- whether the choice is easy or hard to reverse

Use the criteria the user supplied. If none were supplied, propose criteria and label them as proposed.

### Recommendation

Recommend an option only when the evidence supports one. Explain the reasoning in plain language. If the evidence is too thin, say what must be learned before choosing.

### Risks and checks

Name the main ways the recommendation could be wrong and the check that would expose each one early.

### Decision requested

Write the exact approval, choice or next action required. Include owner and date when known.

## Quality bar

- Keep the main brief to one page unless the user asks for depth.
- Never invent a number, source, owner, date or level of certainty.
- Label inference and judgement plainly.
- Show arithmetic for any derived figure.
- Use direct language. Repeat the same term instead of renaming it for variety.
- Do not send, publish or edit source files unless the user asks.
- End when the decision request is clear. Do not add a summary of the summary.