Decision journal template: what to record for each decision
The essentials in 30 seconds
- A decision journal template has 8 fields before the decision and 5 at the review.
- A complete entry takes about 10 minutes to write and 5 minutes to review.
- In the illustrative Singapore hiring entry, the estimate is 400 with a range of 250 to 550 at 70 percent confidence.
- The actual result of 310 falls inside the range and the process scores 5 of 5.
- The EQOS Asia engine recomputes a decision score monthly through Sentinel (EQOS Asia method page, as of October 2026).
A decision journal template lists the fields to fill in before a decision and at its review. This page gives a template of 8 fields before the choice and 5 at the review, then fills it in on an illustrative hiring decision in Singapore. It extends the guide on how to keep a decision journal, and every figure is illustrative as of October 2026.
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What is a decision journal template and why use a fixed one?
A decision journal template is a fixed list of fields that every entry follows. The list turns a blank page into a short form, so an entry takes about 10 minutes and looks the same from one decision to the next. Entries with the same shape can be compared across months and across people.
A fixed shape also protects the quality of the record. When the template asks for a range and a confidence level, the writer has to produce them. When it asks for a review date, the entry arrives in the calendar. The template carries the discipline so that the writer can focus on the decision.
Which fields does a decision journal template record before the decision?
Eight fields cover the moment of choice: the date, the question in one sentence, the options, the reversibility of each option, the key assumptions, the estimate with its range and confidence, the people consulted and the review date. Each field is a line or two. Together they fit on one page.
Reversibility deserves a field of its own because it sets how much evidence a decision needs. A reversible choice, such as a 3-month contractor, can move fast on partial information. An irreversible choice, such as a long lease, asks for more evidence and a longer pause. The writer marks each option as easy, costly or hard to reverse.
How do you fill the estimate and confidence fields of a journal entry?
Write the estimate as a number with a range, for example 400 with a range of 250 to 550, and add the confidence that the actual value lands inside, such as 70 percent. The range keeps the writer honest about uncertainty, and the confidence gives the review a clear test: inside or outside.
Write the estimate before reading any benchmark, then note the benchmark beside it. The two numbers show how far the view of the writer sits from outside data. Over several entries the pairs reveal whether the writer runs optimistic or cautious, which is the pattern a review aims to find.
What does a completed decision journal entry look like?
An illustrative entry: should we hire a regional sales director in Singapore in the first quarter? Options: hire now, hire in 6 months, or use a contractor. The hire is costly to reverse. The key assumption is a flow of 12 qualified leads per month. The estimate is added revenue of 400 in 12 months (US$ thousands), range 250 to 550, confidence 70 percent.
Two people were consulted, the head of finance and an advisor in Hong Kong. The review date is 12 months out. The whole entry runs to about 120 words and takes 10 minutes. A colleague who reads it a year later can see what was decided, why and what the writer expected, without asking anyone.
Which fields does a decision journal template add at the review?
Five fields close the loop: the actual result, whether it landed inside the range, the process score, the would-repeat answer and one lesson. In the illustrative entry the actual added revenue is 310, inside the range of 250 to 550. The process score is 5 of 5, and the writer would repeat the decision knowing only what was known then.
The lesson field takes one sentence: ramp-up took 4 months and not the 2 assumed. That sentence feeds the next entry, where the assumption field now says 4 months. A review takes about 5 minutes. Lessons collected across entries become a short list of assumptions to check first.
Which format suits a decision journal template best, a sheet or a form?
A spreadsheet suits teams that want to filter and count: one row per decision, one column per field, and a column for status. A shared document suits individuals who like prose: one page per decision with the field names as headings. A short web form suits larger groups, since it enforces the fields and stores entries in one place.
Pick the format that people already open every day. Set the entry to read-only once saved, with a separate review block, so that the original reasoning stays intact. Add a tag for the decision type, such as hire, pricing or market entry, so that the quarterly review can group similar decisions and compare them.
How does the EQOS Asia decision engine fit a decision journal template?
A journal entry gains value when its inputs can be replayed. The method page states that any data scientist with access to the Codex Universalis under NDA can recompute a verdict identically (EQOS Asia method page, as of October 2026). The score and its inputs together fill the estimate and assumption fields of a template.
The Sentinel service recomputes the model monthly, which supplies a natural review rhythm (EQOS Asia method page, as of October 2026). A reader can try a first score in the simulator and log it, and the 30-minute pre-diagnostic, scheduled in Singapore time (SGT), applies the equation to a real decision.
See also in this guide
Frequently asked questions
What should a decision journal template include?
Include 8 fields before the decision: date, question, options, reversibility, key assumptions, estimate with range and confidence, people consulted and review date. Add 5 fields at the review: actual result, inside or outside the range, process score, would-repeat answer and one lesson.
How long does a decision journal entry take?
A complete entry takes about 10 minutes to write and about 5 minutes to review. The fixed template keeps the entry short, around 120 words, because each field asks for one line or two. Reserve entries for decisions that carry real cost or that are hard to reverse.
Which tool is best for a decision journal?
Choose the tool your team already opens daily. A spreadsheet supports filtering and counting, a shared document supports prose, and a web form enforces the fields for larger groups. Lock each entry once saved so that the original reasoning stays available for the review.
How can the EQOS Asia pre-diagnostic feed a decision journal?
A free 30-minute pre-diagnostic, scheduled in Singapore time (SGT) and held under NDA, applies the EQOS Asia equation to a real decision that you can then log (EQOS Asia contact page, as of October 2026). The simulator offers a first score to place in the estimate field.
Test your knowledge
1. How many fields does the template record before the decision?
- 5
- 8
- 13
Show the answer
8.
2. What is the estimate range in the illustrative entry?
- 250 to 550
- 300 to 500
- 400 to 600
Show the answer
250 to 550.
3. What was the actual added revenue at the review?
- 400
- 550
- 310
Show the answer
310.
4. How long did ramp-up take in the illustrative lesson?
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
Show the answer
4 months.
5. Why does the template include a reversibility field?
- It sets how much evidence a decision needs
- It sets the font size
- It sets the meeting length
Show the answer
It sets how much evidence a decision needs.
About the author
Stéphane Jambu
President, EQOS Forecast Asia
Stéphane Jambu leads EQOS Forecast Asia and works as a consultant in e-commerce, search visibility, and AI. LinkedIn profile
Sources: EQOS Asia method page (eqos-asia.com/method.html), simulator page (eqos-asia.com/simulator.html), and contact page (eqos-asia.com/contact.html), consulted on 22 October 2026. Page updated on 22 October 2026.