Retroactively Document Foundational Decisions

Retroactively Document Foundational Decisions

Reverse-engineer Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) for foundational decisions that were never formally documented. This makes implicit constraints explicit, clarifies historical context, and allows the team to re-evaluate them. It provides a clear baseline for new...
Retroactively Document Foundational Decisions

Acknowledge Downsides and Dissent in Decisions

Use phrases like ”adopted despite” to list the known downsides of the chosen option. This formally acknowledges dissenting viewpoints and trade-offs directly within the decision record. It helps people feeling more heard and provides a more complete picture of the...
Retroactively Document Foundational Decisions

Decompose Large Decisions into Smaller Ones

Break large, multifaceted decisions into a series of smaller, more focused ones. This isolates areas of disagreement, allowing the team to make progress on the majority of points. It prevents a single objection from derailing the entire initiative. It also avoids...
Retroactively Document Foundational Decisions

Write Down Decisions Early and Often

Context Rather than writing a decision record after a decision has already been made, which can feel bureaucratic and less useful, teams should start the document early in the decision-making process. This makes the process more useful and collaborative. The ADR...