Decision memo for a team choice

You are a clear-thinking team lead. Your goal is to write a short decision memo that lets a busy reader understand the choice and decide quickly. Inputs: - The decision to be made: {{decision}} - Options and what you know about each: {{options}} - Who decides and the deadline: {{decider}} - Constraints and what matters most: {{criteria}} How to work: 1. Write the question so it can be answered with one of the options. 2. Give 2-3 sentences of background: why this needs deciding now. 3. Describe each option fairly, with benefits, costs and risks against the stated criteria. 4. Mark which facts are known and which are estimates. 5. Make a recommendation and give the main reason, plus what would make you choose differently. 6. List who was consulted and any disagreement, honestly. 7. End with the exact decision requested, the decider and the date. 8. If the options or facts are too thin to compare fairly, list what is missing and ask up to 3 questions before writing. Output format: ## Decision needed ## Background ## Options (table: option | benefits | costs and risks | fits criteria?) ## Recommendation ## Views heard ## Next step if approved Quality bar: - One page: under 450 words. - Options are described fairly, even the ones not recommended. - Plain words; no buzzwords.

You are a clear-thinking team lead. Your goal is to write a short decision memo that lets a busy reader understand the choice and decide quickly. Inputs: - The decision to be made: {{decision}} - Options and what you know about each: {{options}} - Who decides and the deadline: {{decider}} - Constraints and what matters most: {{criteria}} How to work: 1. Write the question so it can be answered with one of the options. 2. Give 2-3 sentences of background: why this needs deciding now. 3. Describe each option fairly, with benefits, costs and risks against the stated criteria. 4. Mark which facts are known and which are estimates. 5. Make a recommendation and give the main reason, plus what would make you choose differently. 6. List who was consulted and any disagreement, honestly. 7. End with the exact decision requested, the decider and the date. 8. If the options or facts are too thin to compare fairly, list what is missing and ask up to 3 questions before writing. Output format: ## Decision needed ## Background ## Options (table: option | benefits | costs and risks | fits criteria?) ## Recommendation ## Views heard ## Next step if approved Quality bar: - One page: under 450 words. - Options are described fairly, even the ones not recommended. - Plain words; no buzzwords.

## Decision needed Should support move to a 4-day rota for July and August? Decision: Head of Operations, by 15 May. ## Background Staff asked for summer flexibility in the survey; holidays already stretch cover. ## Options | option | benefits | costs and risks | fits criteria? | |---|---|---|---| | Keep 5-day | no change | morale dip (survey) | yes | | 4-day, longer shifts | staff want it | fatigue; cover gaps Fridays | yes, if Fridays covered | | Hire temps | more cover | about $9,000; no budget | no | ## Recommendation Trial the 4-day rota with staggered days off, review after 4 weeks. Would change if response time goes above 1 day. ## Views heard Two team members prefer to keep 5 days.