Put it into practice
List decision types rather than broad job titles.
Name the decision owner and any mandatory consultation.
Add limits, reserved matters and the review owner for each row.
A case to think through
The delivery lead may change sequencing within a job, while the account lead must agree any change to a customer promise.
This is a hypothetical operating example, not a client result.A boundary worth checking
A matrix naming five people as joint decision owners can hide the very ambiguity it was intended to remove.
Operating authority must sit within the permissions your business already holds. A worksheet or matrix cannot override company, contractual, financial, employment or specialist controls. Where a choice is formally reserved, show the decision route clearly so the manager can prepare and progress the surrounding work.
Your handover working notes
Use these prompts with the person taking ownership. Record the agreement within your existing permissions.
| Prompt | Notes from your case |
|---|---|
| Decision | |
| decides | |
| consulted | |
| informed | |
| limit |
Is a decision matrix the same as an organisation chart?
No. Reporting lines show relationships between roles. The matrix describes authority over particular choices.
Give one decision a clear owner.
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