Executive decision log
The Fourth Turning Leader
https://thefourthturningleader.com/blog/executive-decision-log-template

Decision ID and date:

Decision owner:

Decision statement:

Triggering condition:

Decision deadline:

Governing standard:

Facts and assumptions:

Options considered:

Chosen course and rationale:

Dissent and uncertainty:

Required approvals:

Execution owner and first action:

Review date and reversal criteria:


WORKED EXAMPLE (FICTIONAL)
Disclosing a delivery delay before renewal

Decision ID and date: RENEWAL-01. Record the date before the renewal meeting.

Decision owner: CEO, with delivery and account leads advising.

Decision statement: Disclose the delivery delay before requesting renewal; offer a revised milestone.

Triggering condition: The delivery lead reports that the promised milestone is unlikely to be met.

Decision deadline: Before the account lead sends the renewal agreement.

Governing standard: Customers should know a material delivery risk before committing to another term.

Facts and assumptions: Fact: the delivery lead reported a delay. Assumption: the revised date is achievable; engineering must verify it.

Options considered: Disclose now; postpone renewal until the schedule is verified; renew without disclosure. Reject the last option because it conceals a risk the customer bears.

Chosen course and rationale: Verify the revised date and disclose the risk. Accept the possibility of losing the renewal to preserve an informed customer decision.

Dissent and uncertainty: The account lead expects a price concession. The revised schedule remains uncertain until engineering reviews it.

Required approvals: Confirm contract-specific obligations with the appropriate advisor before sending revised terms.

Execution owner and first action: Delivery lead verifies the milestone; account lead prepares the disclosure; CEO approves the communication.

Review date and reversal criteria: Review at the next weekly delivery meeting. Reopen the plan if engineering cannot support the revised milestone.