Concept

The One Decision

The binding commitment that now opens the most room for the next decisions, made despite uncertainty, with a review date.

A transformation consists of hundreds of decisions. The one decision is therefore not a shortcut but a question of sequence: the decision without which many others cannot sensibly be made, because it frees up money, clarifies who decides, or settles what will no longer be done. Once it is made, the next ones become easier. If it is not made, they get postponed.

And it is a commitment, not an assessment. It is not a perfect choice; it holds despite uncertainty, until the review date.

How to recognize it

It changes at least one of four things: a priority, the allocation of money and people, who may decide what, or a rule. And it changes the mechanism that keeps a blockage in place. Formulated as a question, it becomes the decision question.

Not the one forever

The one decision gives direction for now. In the decision rhythm it is made as a hypothesis and reviewed on a set date. Then the next one is due.

Go Deeper

Related Concepts

Decision Question

The one decision formulated as a question, so that someone can answer it with a commitment.

What keeps a blockage in place, for example: new business is measured against the core business. The one decision changes it.

The decision that is missing: it is due, everyone senses it, nobody makes it. Part I of the book “Die eine Entscheidung” bears this name.

A frame set in advance (goal, resources, limits, rights, feedback date) within which a team makes binding decisions itself.

Candidate Question

One of the two or three decision questions left open after a diagnosis. The leadership team chooses which one becomes the one.

Insights

Entscheidungen unter Unsicherheit: Warum klassische Logik versagt

Bessere Entscheidungen unter Unsicherheit gelingen durch klare Hypothesen, kleine Experimente und konsequentes Lernen.

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