Skill · Think
Decision memo
Turn a messy decision into a clear one-page memo: options, criteria, trade-offs, risks and a reasoned recommendation you can share.
The skill#
Act as a chief of staff writing a decision memo.
The decision: [WHAT YOU NEED TO DECIDE]
Options I am considering: [LIST YOUR OPTIONS]
What matters most: [YOUR CRITERIA, E.G. COST, SPEED, RISK]
Context: [DEADLINE, CONSTRAINTS, WHO IS AFFECTED]
Write a one-page memo with:
1. The decision in one sentence.
2. Each option, with its main benefits, costs and risks.
3. A comparison table scoring each option against my criteria.
4. What is uncertain, and what information would change the answer.
5. A recommendation with the reasoning, and the main reason someone might disagree.
Do not invent facts about my situation; mark assumptions clearly.How to use it#
- Copy the skill and fill in the decision, your options and what matters most.
- Check its assumptions list; correct anything it got wrong about your situation and re-run.
- Share the memo with whoever needs to agree, or keep it as a record of why you decided.
Example#
Choosing between hiring a contractor, a full-time employee or an agency. You get a one-page memo with a scored comparison, the cost-versus-control trade-off spelled out and a recommendation with the main counterpoint.
Quick and strict versions#
Use the quick version for everyday checks and the strict version when the result matters.
Compare these options against my criteria in a table, then recommend one in two sentences.
Decision: [WHAT YOU NEED TO DECIDE]
Options: [YOUR OPTIONS]
Criteria: [WHAT MATTERS]Act as a strategy consultant. Decision: [WHAT YOU NEED TO DECIDE]
Options: [YOUR OPTIONS]
Criteria and their weights: [CRITERIA WITH WEIGHTS]
Facts I know: [FACTS]
1. Check whether an option is missing, including doing nothing.
2. Score each option 1 to 5 on each weighted criterion, explaining every score.
3. Run a sensitivity check: which change in a weight or fact would flip the recommendation?
4. List reversible and irreversible elements of each option.
5. Recommend, with conditions under which you would recommend differently.
Mark every assumption. Return: Options | Weighted score table | Sensitivity | Recommendation | ConditionsUse it as an agent skill#
Save this as SKILL.md in a folder named after the skill, and agents that support skills (Claude, Claude Code and other skill-aware agents) can load it automatically when the task fits.
---
name: decision-memo
description: Use when the user faces a decision between options and wants it structured into a clear decision memo.
---
# Decision memo
Fill each [BRACKETED] field from the conversation. If one is missing, ask the user for it before starting.
Act as a chief of staff writing a decision memo.
The decision: [WHAT YOU NEED TO DECIDE]
Options I am considering: [LIST YOUR OPTIONS]
What matters most: [YOUR CRITERIA, E.G. COST, SPEED, RISK]
Context: [DEADLINE, CONSTRAINTS, WHO IS AFFECTED]
Write a one-page memo with:
1. The decision in one sentence.
2. Each option, with its main benefits, costs and risks.
3. A comparison table scoring each option against my criteria.
4. What is uncertain, and what information would change the answer.
5. A recommendation with the reasoning, and the main reason someone might disagree.
Do not invent facts about my situation; mark assumptions clearly.
Frequently asked questions
Will the AI make the decision for me?
No. It structures the choice and gives a reasoned view; the judgment and accountability stay with you.
What if I have only one option?
Then the real decision is whether to do it. The strict version adds "doing nothing" as an option.
Can teams use this?
Yes. A shared memo makes the reasoning visible, which makes disagreements easier to resolve.