Use this guide when you already have a draft decision scope and want to use meeting time to get focused feedback, clarify what is missing, and confirm the next step in the decision process.

This meeting works best when participants receive the draft scope in advance and come ready to react to it. The goal is not to make the decision itself. The goal is to make sure the process is clear enough to move forward intentionally.

Use this when: The need for a decision has been raised, and someone has prepared a draft scope that names what may need to be decided, why it matters, who may be involved, what criteria may matter, and what should happen next.

Do not use this when: You already have a clear recommendation or proposal and need feedback on it. For that, use Meeting Design Guide: Getting Input or Feedback on a Decision.

Sample Objectives - choose from this list or write your own

• Everyone understands what decision needs to be made and why it matters now
• The group has provided feedback on the decision scope
• The group is clear on roles in the decision process and had a chance to offer feedback
• The person driving the process knows what needs to be revised before the next phase of work
• Everyone is clear on next steps: who will update the decision scope, how it will be shared, and when the next phase will begin

Before the Meeting

As the person driving or facilitating this conversation, prepare a draft decision scope and share it as a pre-read. The draft does not need to be perfect. It needs to be clear enough for people to react to.

Your pre-read should include your best thinking on:

Why, What, When?

• What needs to be decided?
• Why does the organization need to make this decision?
• Why now?
• By when?
• Additional background context

Who?