Glossary
Strategy Council
The Strategy Council is the review body that signs recommendations at the Decide gate of a strategy1 engagement and, on the retainer, reviews drift and next decisions every month.
Glossary · Strategy term
Decision memo
A plain definition, why it matters, how strategy1 uses it, and answers to the questions people ask most.
Definition
What is a decision memo?
A decision memo is a short document that records a business decision: the question, the options considered, the recommendation, the evidence and risks behind it, and who approved it. It gives leaders one place to decide and leaves a record of why the choice was made.
Also called: decision memorandum, signed decision memo.
Explained in full on The S1 Method: the Decide stage.
Context
Why it matters
Decisions made in meetings or slide decks are often hard to reconstruct later. A memo puts the reasoning in writing, makes the trade-offs visible and shows who was accountable, which matters when results are reviewed.
In practice
How strategy1 uses it
In strategy1's S1 Method, the decision memo is the output of the Decide stage. AI drafts the recommendation and the board-ready narrative; the Strategy Council approves it, a named Strategy Partner signs it and, where liability exists, a Domain Fellow signs the parts they reviewed. Every figure links to the evidence ledger.
FAQ
Decision memo: common questions
What is the difference between a decision memo and a strategy deck?
A deck presents a strategy; a decision memo records a choice. The memo states the options, the recommendation, the evidence, the risks and who approved it, so it can be checked later. Decks often leave out the rejected options and the approval.
What should a decision memo include?
The decision to be made, the options considered, the recommendation, the evidence and how far it can be trusted, the main risks or counter-arguments, the KPIs that will show whether it worked, and the names of the people who approved it.
Can a decision memo recommend not acting?
Yes. A well-made decision memo can conclude that the best option is not to proceed. In strategy1's work, if the evidence says “don't do it”, the memo says so, with that evidence.
Bring one real decision.Leave with a signed plan.
A 72-Hour Bootcamp takes one problem your team would scope in weeks and works it to a decision memo your leadership signs. Fixed scope, fixed fee.