Lesson 225 · 3 min
Writing a decision memo
A one-page decision memo states the question, the options, the trade-offs and your recommendation, so others can decide quickly.
Big decisions often get stuck in long meetings because nobody has written down the choice clearly. A short memo fixes that.
The usual shape: the decision needed and by when, the background in a few lines, two to four options with pros, cons and cost, your recommendation and why, and what happens next if it is approved.
AI helps in two ways. It can shape your notes into this structure, and it can argue for the option you did not pick. That shows you whether your recommendation holds up.
Check every number and claim yourself. A decision memo is only as good as its facts, and AI may fill gaps with guesses that sound reasonable.
Do it now
Write a one-page memo
- 1. Pick a decision your team needs to make.
- 2. Write rough notes on the options.
- 3. Run the prompt below and check every number.
Turn my notes into a one-page decision memo. Sections: Decision needed (and deadline), Background (3 lines), Options (2 to 4, each with pros, cons, cost), Recommendation and why, Next steps. Use only facts from my notes and mark any gap with [NEED DATA]. Then, separately, write the strongest case for the option I did not recommend. [PASTE NOTES]
Quick check
Keep going
Next →Budgeting a small projectWords from this lesson
- Prompt
- The instruction or question you give an AI. Clearer prompts with context usually get much better answers.
- Sycophancy
- An AI's tendency to agree with you or flatter your ideas instead of telling you where you are wrong.
- Hallucination
- When an AI states something false with confidence, such as a made-up fact, quote or source.