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Decision Making Framework

1 post · Oct 2019

What this trail covers

Shopify has developed and enhanced a framework called TOMASP (Timebox, Options, Meta, Analyze, Step back, Prepare to be wrong) to guide engineers and technical leaders in making better, faster, and more informed decisions. This framework aims to counteract cognitive biases and uncertainty by providing structured steps for evaluating alternatives, considering long-term impact, and preparing for potential failures. It emphasizes the process of decision-making over solely focusing on outcomes.

All Shopify trails
  1. Make Great Decisions Quickly with TOMASP - ShopifyThis post introduces the TOMASP framework for decision-making. It details each component: Timebox (T) to set decision deadlines and avoid analysis paralysis; Options (O) to generate at least three reasonable alternatives and use the Vanishing Option Test; Meta (M) to define decision-making criteria and optimize for specific goals; Analyze (A) to compare pros and cons of options, using a devil's advocate and diverse perspectives; Step back (S) to delay decisions when emotions are high or energy is low, using the 10/10/10 analysis; and Prepare to be Wrong (P) by setting tripwires and conducting pre-mortem analysis. The post uses a real-world example of a mobile app rewrite decision to illustrate the application of the framework.