PATTERNS OF DECISION ARCHITECTURE

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Decision architecture is defined as the structure of a decision, comprising of the context of a decision, the rationale for its framing and unpacking of its underlying elements. Decision analysis has a minimal and powerful vocabulary that is based on the desiderata of normative decision theory. However, there is not a similar language that covers the practical application of decision analysis. As a result, efforts to scale a largely consultative conversation like decision analysis have been highly limited. Decision architecture patterns allow us to transmit the implicit wisdom extant in a generation of practitioners to other audiences in a scalable way.

More fundamentally, by introducing the term “Decision Architecture,” we are inviting future research inquiry into differentiating decision architectures and encouraging a new vocabulary for decision-makers. Imagine asking your local city council leader, “Madam/Sir, what is the decision architecture of your decision?” And in response, leaders would have to expose the context of their decision, the rationale for their frame and the elements of their decision. They could do it using patterns in this catalog.

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The purpose of a decision analysis process is reaching clarity of action, which means that you believe that you know the best course of action and you feel at peace with yourself when making a decision.

We begin each decision process by working on the frame of the decision. Each element of the framing process helps increase the overall clarity of action, bringing the decision maker closer to being at peace with herself. A frame aims to clarify the purpose, the perspective, and the scope of the decision problem before moving to the analysis phase.

In an organizational setting, a framing session may be conducted in a DECISION WORKSHOP format where you clarify your PROBLEM STRUCTURE and generate ALTERNATIVES.