-- how it works

Five steps. One gate. Complete clarity.

Decision Gate is not a process or methodology. It is a decision act — a moment you choose to apply before commitment begins.

No tools required. No certification. No formal infrastructure. You can apply it in your next meeting.

01

A decision appears

Any action that affects people, consumes significant resources, or is difficult to reverse triggers a Decision Gate. Someone must recognize the moment and name it explicitly.

02

The gate is applied

The four questions are answered with honesty and specificity. Not assumed. Not delegated. Not summarized in a slide. The answers must exist before action begins.

03

Responsibility is assigned

A single Decision Owner is identified by name. Not a team. Not a role. A person. If no one accepts responsibility, the gate does not open and action may not proceed.

04

The Decision Log is updated

The decision is recorded with its context, outcome, owner, and rationale. A decision without a log entry is treated as a decision not made. This is organizational memory.

05

Action begins — or does not

The gate produces one outcome: GO, CHANGE, PAUSE, or KILL. Only GO allows execution to start. Every other outcome returns the decision to deliberation or ends the initiative