Episode ResourceBusiness SystemsFor decision-makers
The Commitment Line
From the episode: Architecture is where the money decision hides
“Name the moment the money is decided.”
Every design review makes at least one choice the business will still be paying for years from now, and nothing in a normal review asks which one. This page is the missing field — four lines, filled in while the decision is still being made.
- What it is: the decision written down, plus four lines about what it commits you to — filled in in the room, at the time.
- Who fills it in: whoever is running the review. Not finance — they are not there.
- When: during the design review, before it ends. Not written up afterwards.
- Time: three minutes per decision. Fewer decisions need it than you think.