In this article
Authors: John D. Gómez
Topics: Decisiones técnicas
Other edition: Dejar una decisión que otro pueda continuar
Approving an option closes a conversation. For the work to continue, the team needs to preserve why that option was reasonable, under which conditions and what might require changing it. Someone who was not at the meeting should be able to retrieve that information.
Record what matters
- The specific decision and the problem it is intended to solve.
- The constraints that every alternative must satisfy.
- The options considered and the available evidence.
- The choice, its consequences and the person responsible.
- How the result will be checked and when it will be reviewed.
Make assumptions visible
A volume estimate, a delivery date or a supplier’s capability can change. Identify which conditions support the decision and what signal would justify reopening it. Revisiting the direction then responds to new information rather than shifting preferences.
Match the effort to the consequences
A change that is easy to reverse may need only a brief note and a test. A migration affecting data, contracts or people requires more investigation. The document’s length should serve the decision, not a template that requires the same content in every case.
Test whether the decision can be handed over
Give the record to a teammate and ask them to explain what they need to do and what they must not compromise. The questions that arise help improve the decision before those gaps turn into rework.