Observation
The Decision That Was Never Made
Assumptions and informal agreements gradually acquire the authority of a decision no one made.
A recurring pattern where assumptions, recommendations and informal agreements gradually acquire the authority of a decision, even though no clear decision was ever made.
As the distinction between discussions and decisions disappears:
- Decision ownership becomes unclear
- Assumptions become difficult to challenge
- Accountability weakens
- Documentation gains authority without legitimacy
Related Principles
- Make Alternatives Explicit
- Challenge Assumptions
- Document Rationale
Relations
- Related patterns:
- decision-vacuum