What are the best frameworks for product decisions and strategy?

The DECIDE framework is an excellent framework for making difficult decisions that require significant research and thought. The framework covers the following steps: D | Define problem E | Evaluate criteria C | Create options I | Identify solution D | Declare commitment E | Engage and execute This framework is a step-by-step process to help you make an informed decision, and generate buy-in with stakeholders along the way.

How do you make hard decisions in startups?

To make hard decisions in startups, it’s useful to agree on a decision making process such as the DECIDE framework. Agreeing on a framework up front has three main benefits. Firstly, it helps ensure that you make a good decision by taking the time to evaluate options thoroughly. Secondly, it helps get buy-in with stakeholders by making sure the process is transparent and they have opportunities to provide input. Finally, it provides a written record of why a decision was made, allowing people to check back on the lines of reasoning and learn from them once the outcomes of the decision become clear.

How do you create alignment on start up decisions and strategy?

To create alignment on decisions and strategy, it’s helpful to define the process you will use to make a decision up front. That way people can input into the process itself, as well as the decisions that will be made with it. Providing a transparent process, and then giving people updates on how the decision making is going, means that their feedback can be incorporated at an appropriate point, and they are more likely to agree with the final decision.

What decisions do product managers make?

Product managers make decisions on defining, developing and marketing a product. They help a cross functional product team decide which user problems to solve in order to create business value, and then systematically reduce risk as the team works on those problems. As a result, product managers make decisions on a variety of strategic and tactical issues, from choosing where the team should focus, to which features the team should build, and how those features are rolled out.

How do product managers make decisions?

Product managers make decisions by gathering information, weighing the alternatives and seeing what course of action makes the most sense. Information may come from quantitative data on user behavior (i.e. how users are using the product currently), qualitative insights from speaking to users, researching competitors and speaking to experts and stakeholders.

If you are going to be making a hard, important decision, then a more formal process can help you navigate to the best answer. The DECIDE framework is a powerful way to execute that process. Equally importantly it can make sure that you’ve got buy-in for that decision with the right people. Leading everyone through a predefined process makes it clear how you’re going to decide, the timeline for the decision, and who will be involved. Documenting the decision at the same time forces people to be crisp on their reasoning, and allows anyone to get up to speed quickly on what was decided and why.

DECIDE framework

One such decision making framework for important decisions is DECIDE, which follows six steps to get you to a high quality answer:

D | Define problem
E | Evaluate criteria
C | Create options
I | Identify solution
D | Decide and commit
E | Engage and execute

Notion template for D.E.C.I.D.E. decision making framework — *DECIDE template in Notion*

This decision making template gives you a step-by-step guide to taking difficult decisions in a thorough and collaborative way.

This article is for paid subscribers

Get access to all our articles, templates and guides by upgrading to a paid subscription

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

DECIDE framework: The effective decision making framework for tough choices

DECIDE framework

This article is for paid subscribers

Membership options

Free

Monthly

POPULAR

Annual

Top articles

Proven guides, templates and case studies for product managers into your inbox each week