Worked example · Entirely fictional

The report is finished.
Does it answer the Nation’s question?

The Nation is asked to support Route A at Friday’s meeting. The request cites a completed technical review. An earlier Nation direction asked for something different.

Project Decision Brief / Illustrative extract

What supports the route choice?

Record reviewed to
14 April

The three records

  1. 02 Feb
    Nation meeting record

    “Compare both road routes before choosing one.”

  2. 18 Mar
    Technical report

    Assesses Route A only. Comparing routes is outside its scope.

  3. 09 Apr
    Decision request

    Seeks support for Route A, citing the completed technical review.

Finding from the reviewed records

One route assessed.
No comparison in the reviewed records.

The report addresses Route A. It does not answer the earlier request to compare both routes.

Two questions before the meeting

  1. Project contact: What record compares Route A with Route B?
  2. Nation staff: Has the February direction changed, and where is that decision recorded?
For the Nation to decide

What information and advice are needed before responding to the request for support?

The practical difference: the meeting can address the Nation’s route-choice question, not mistake a finished report for an answered direction.

Fictional records, not client results. Other records may change the finding. No technical judgment about either route or determination of the Nation’s decision is made.

What question is approaching for your Nation?

Discuss a project question