# Executive Decision Memo

A decision memo you can copy and use, with prompts for evidence, alternatives, economics, ownership and a follow-up decision.

Audience: Leaders preparing management decisions
Publication: Editable template · v1.1

Source: https://dangnguyen.cv/resources/executive-decision-memo

## Design principle

Executive communication becomes clearer when the required decision is visible before the supporting detail.

## Start with the requested decision

Name the decision, the decision-maker and the required date. Write the recommendation in one sentence before adding context. A memo should help a reader locate the choice and its consequences.


## Complete the memo

- Decision required: what must be approved, selected or changed, by whom and by when?
- Context: why is a decision needed now, and what happens if no action is taken?
- Evidence: what has been observed, over which period and population, against which baseline?
- Alternatives: compare the recommendation, a credible alternative and the status quo using the same economics and constraints.
- Recommendation: explain the expected outcome, trade-offs and assumptions. Label estimates separately from observations.
- Execution: name the accountable owner, dependencies and next decision point.
- Review: state the evidence that would justify continuation, expansion, revision or a pause.

## Illustrative example

The download includes a fictional offer-pilot memo. It recommends extending a controlled test when early response is encouraging but profit and credit outcomes are not yet mature. The example is synthetic and contains no company data.


## How to use it

Download the Markdown file, copy the blank template and replace the bracketed prompts. Keep the main decision concise; put supporting analysis in an appendix. The template is a personal working aid, not a substitute for the governance required in your organization.



## Blank decision memo

Decision: [The specific choice required]
Decision-maker: [Role or forum]
Decision date: [Date]
Accountable owner: [Name or role]

### Recommendation
[One sentence stating the action, scope and reason.]

### Why now
[Business problem, timing and consequence of taking no action.]

### Evidence and uncertainty
- Observation: [Metric, period, population and baseline.]
- Economics: [Value, cost, risk and relevant time horizon.]
- Assumptions: [Estimates that have not yet been validated.]
- Unknowns: [Evidence still needed and when it should be available.]

### Alternatives
- Recommended option: [Benefits, costs, constraints and dependencies.]
- Credible alternative: [Same comparison dimensions.]
- Status quo: [Expected outcome if no change is made.]

### Execution and next decision
- Owner and first action: [Who does what next.]
- Dependencies: [Required capabilities or decisions.]
- Review date: [Date or agreed evidence milestone.]
- Continue or expand when: [Criteria.]
- Revise or pause when: [Criteria.]

### Supporting analysis
[Links to the evidence, model and assumptions.]

## Illustrative example

This fictional example is a writing aid. It contains no company data or reported outcome.

Decision: Extend a controlled pricing pilot before deciding on broader rollout.
Decision-maker: Product and Risk governance forum.
Accountable owner: Pilot product lead.

Recommendation: Continue the existing controlled test until the agreed evaluation window is complete, with the approved risk and affordability constraints retained.

Why now: Early response looks encouraging, but the pilot has not yet produced sufficient evidence on lifetime economics and credit performance to support expansion.

Evidence: Compare response and utilization within equivalent customer groups. Identify overlapping channel or eligibility changes. Treat the expected profit estimate as a forecast until the required inputs mature.

Alternatives: Immediate expansion accelerates potential benefit but increases exposure to uncertain economics. Stopping now removes the uncertainty of further rollout but also prevents completing the evaluation. Continuing the controlled test preserves the comparison while more evidence develops.

Execution: The product lead maintains the test plan; Analytics reviews comparability, Finance updates economics and Risk reviews the relevant credit evidence. The forum revisits expansion at the agreed evidence milestone. Investigate or pause if monitoring identifies a breach of approved constraints or an unreliable comparison.