# Making Product Decisions

> Make structured product decisions with explicit goals, options, tradeoffs, evidence, and decision records. Use when stakeholders disagree, multiple valid paths exist, scope is contested, or choices need rationale; avoid for requirements cleanup, roadmap hierarchy, or effort sizing alone.

- Skill: `flpbalada/making-product-decisions` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add flpbalada/making-product-decisions`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/flpbalada/making-product-decisions/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Product & Planning, Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: flpbalada (https://skillmd.com/u/flpbalada)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/flpbalada/making-product-decisions

---


# Making Product Decisions

Make product decisions explicit.
Separate decision quality from outcome.

## Goal

Choose option with rationale, owner, success criteria, and review date.

## Rules

- Define decision before debating options.
- Include status quo.
- Avoid binary framing.
- Create at least 3 options.
- Decide faster for reversible choices.
- Slow down for irreversible choices.
- Set criteria before scoring.
- Capture dissent.

## Decision Types

- Type 1: hard to reverse, high stakes, decide carefully.
- Type 2: reversible, lower stakes, decide quickly.

## Flow

1. State exact decision.
2. Name decision maker.
3. Identify deadline and reversibility.
4. Generate options.
5. Define criteria and weights.
6. Compare options.
7. Choose.
8. Record rationale, risks, dissent, metrics.
9. Set review date.

## Resources

- [Thinking in Bets - Annie Duke](https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Bets-Making-Smarter-Decisions/dp/0735216355)
- [Decisive - Chip & Dan Heath](https://www.amazon.com/Decisive-Make-Better-Choices-Life/dp/0307956393)

## Output

```md
## Product Decision Record

Decision: [what is decided]
Owner: [decision maker]
Date: [date]
Status: [proposed / approved / implemented]
Type: [Type 1 / Type 2]

Context:
- Problem: [problem]
- Constraints: [constraints]
- Deadline: [date]

Options:
- Status quo: [summary]
- Option A: [summary]
- Option B: [summary]

Criteria:
- [criterion]: weight [1-5]

Decision:
- Chosen: [option]
- Rationale: [why]
- Risks: [main risks]
- Dissent: [concerns]

Success:
- Metric: [metric]
- Target: [value]
- Review date: [date]
```