Why it matters: When leaders rotate, undocumented decisions become folklore. McKinsey’s State of AI 2024 found 60% of organisations have embedded AI into at least one business unit, yet many still rely on hallway conversations for governance.[1] A decision log workflow in Chaos captures rationale, data and consequences so successors can move fast without repeating debates.
TL;DR
- Record every strategic decision with rationale, alternatives, stakeholders and expected outcomes.
- Link decisions to related projects, handoffs and compliance artefacts so context travels automatically.
- Review the log weekly and flag follow-up actions to keep momentum alive.
Why do you need a decision log workflow?
Decision debt compounds like technical debt. Without a log, new leaders revisit old debates, waste budget and erode trust. A decision log workflow aligned with the cross-functional handoff template keeps strategy, execution and compliance marching in sync.
Case story (hypothetical): When a VP of Product exited a SaaS scale-up, the replacement used the decision log to see why roadmap bets shifted to enterprise. Because the log linked to financial models and customer interviews, the new VP skipped discovery loops and accelerated partner launches.
How do you build the decision log workflow in Chaos?
Template the key fields
Create a Chaos template with fields for decision statement, drivers, alternatives considered, risk rating, and review date. Attach supporting docs and link to related workspaces: compliance roadmap, data hygiene checklist, or GTM tracker.
Automate notifications and follow-through
When a decision is published, Chaos alerts stakeholders by channel and prompts for acceptance. Schedule follow-up reminders so owners report outcomes or adjust scope. Use tags like “Needs review” or “Superseded” to keep the log tidy.
| Decision | Owner | Review cadence |
|---|---|---|
| Launch enterprise pricing tier | VP Revenue | Quarterly ARR review |
| Adopt AI risk tiering framework | Head of Legal | Biannual compliance audit |
| Deprioritise Android launch | Product Council | Review after Android beta metrics |
| Outsource localisation | COO | Annual vendor audit |
Expose decisions where work happens
Embed recent decisions in team dashboards, project updates and the onboarding playbook. This keeps new hires and external partners aligned without separate training sessions.
How do you keep the decision log workflow current?
Assign a steward—often Chief of Staff or PMO—to audit the log weekly. Close the loop on outcomes, archive obsolete entries and escalate decisions stuck without owners. During leadership transitions, export the log, attach to the handoff template, and brief successors in one sitting.
Key takeaways
- A decision log workflow keeps leadership context centralised and searchable.
- Automated reminders ensure actions linked to decisions actually happen.
- Embedding decisions in onboarding and dashboards makes transitions painless.