Guide
Decision brief template: one page that gets a decision made
A decision brief is a one-page document that puts the question, the options and your recommendation in front of the person who decides, before the meeting. It turns a meeting from a discussion into a decision. Here is the template, a filled-in example and how to write a good one.
Updated October 4, 2026 · 5 min read · By the Align team
What a decision brief is
A brief is the written question. It names what is being decided, who decides, by when, what the options are, and what you recommend. It is short on purpose: if it takes more than a page, the question is probably still too big.
It differs from a status update (which reports what happened) and from a proposal for a project (which asks for resources). A brief asks for one answer to one question.
The template
Decision needed: [one sentence, written as a question] Decider: [one name] Needed by: [date], because [what happens if we wait] Type: [easy to reverse | hard to reverse] Background [Three sentences: what changed and why this is on the table now] Options 1. [Option A]: [one line] Cost: [ ] Risk: [ ] 2. [Option B]: [one line] Cost: [ ] Risk: [ ] 3. Do nothing: [what happens] Recommendation [Option] because [reason 1] and [reason 2]. Risks we accept [What could go wrong and the early sign we'd see] What would change my mind [One specific fact] How we'll decide [In writing by date | in a 25-minute meeting on date]
Filled-in example
Decision needed: Do we ship onboarding v2 on the 14th without SSO? Decider: Priya Patel Needed by: Oct 8, because design freeze for the launch email is Oct 9 Type: Hard to reverse (we announce publicly) Background Two enterprise pilots asked for SSO. It is three weeks from done. The other customers do not need it at launch. Options 1. Ship on the 14th without SSO. Cost: none. Risk: two pilots are disappointed. 2. Delay to November for SSO. Cost: three weeks of launch momentum. Risk: competitors ship first. 3. Do nothing: the current onboarding keeps losing new users in week one. Recommendation Ship on the 14th without SSO, because the pilots are a small share of revenue and the delay costs more than it saves. Risks we accept A pilot may pause its rollout. Sam calls both contacts before we announce. What would change my mind Either pilot saying they would cancel without SSO at launch. How we'll decide In writing by Oct 8. If anyone objects, a 25-minute meeting on Oct 7.
How to write a good one
- Write the question first and make it answerable with a choice, not a topic. “Do we ship on the 14th?” beats “Launch timing”.
- Name one decider. If you can't, deciding who decides is the real decision.
- Include “do nothing” as an option. It is often the actual alternative.
- Make your recommendation clear. A brief that hides its author's view makes the reader do the work.
- Say what would change your mind. It invites the one piece of evidence that matters.
- Send it at least a day ahead so people arrive with a view.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Several decisions in one brief | Split them. One brief per decision. |
| Options that are really one option with variations | Make the options genuinely different. |
| No deadline | Say what happens if it waits. If nothing, it may not need deciding. |
| Background that runs to pages | Three sentences, with a link for detail. |
| Treating a brief as a vote | The decider decides; others advise. |
How Align does this for you
Align's free decision record generator turns the discussion that follows a brief into a finished record, and the extension captures the decision and owners from the call itself, so the outcome lands next to the question without anyone rewriting it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a decision brief?
A one-page document that states what is being decided, who decides, by when, the options and a recommendation. It is sent before the meeting so the meeting can be used to decide.
How long should a decision brief be?
One page. If it needs more, the question is too big or you are mixing several decisions. Link to supporting detail instead of including it.
Who should write the decision brief?
The person closest to the problem, usually the one who will recommend an answer. The decider reads it, they don't write it.
What is the difference between a decision brief and a decision record?
A brief is written before the decision to frame the question. A record is written after to capture what was chosen and why. They can be the same page, with the outcome added at the end.