Tech Lead Handbook
  • đź‘‹Introduction
  • People
    • Space for Growth
    • One on Ones
    • Manage Conflicts
    • Deal with Passive Aggressive
    • Give Feedback
    • Performance Management
    • Manage Up
    • Talent Matrix
  • Engineering
    • Pair Programming
    • DCI Framework
    • Code Ownership
    • ADR
  • Leadership
    • Leadership Competencies
    • The Communication Pyramid
    • Anti Patterns
  • Prioritisation
    • Types of Decisions
    • Pros and Cons
    • Decision Matrix
  • Hiring
    • Hiring Process
    • Prepare a Hiring
    • Position Description
    • Shortlisting
    • Case Study
  • Product
    • Working with Product Managers
    • Assumptions Mapping
    • Decision Making
    • Practice vs Process
    • Nemawashi
    • OKRs
    • Consensus vs Consent
  • Project
    • The Triple Constraint
  • Strategy
    • Tech Strategy
  • Communication
    • Use Positive Language
  • Shortlist
  • ...
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On this page
  • The What
  • The How
  • Step 2: The Decision Maker to consult with people from various functions.
  • Pro Tips
  • Exceptions
  • Red Flags
  • Tips
  • Pitfalls
  1. Engineering

DCI Framework

A great decision-making process that helps you gain consensus and drive better decisions.

PreviousPair ProgrammingNextCode Ownership

Last updated 2 years ago

The What

Decision Maker — Individual(s) who makes the decision and is accountable for its impact on the business

Consulted — Individual(s) accountable for providing guidance based on functional expertise and experience, highlighting issues and raising alternatives to support the Decision Maker

Informed — Impacted stakeholder(s) are notified after the decision has been made and who will need to support the execution of the decision

The How

Step 1: The Decision Maker to prepare a document with context, goals, options, driving factors, constraints (people, cost, time, quality, etc)

  • Clarify the problem to be solved.

  • Share the constraints that facing.

  • Quantify each option in a format that has pros & cons for simple scenarios or for complex ones.

Step 2: The Decision Maker to consult with people from various functions.

  • Confirm context & goals & constraints

  • Captures a variety of opinions and ideas from individuals

  • Polish each option with related experts via meeting, slack, document

Step 3: The Decision Maker to revisit these options and makes a trade off

  • It should be very clear who is making the decision.

  • The Decision Maker can be anyone, and it doesn’t or shouldn’t have to be the leader or the manger.

  • It helps drive ownership and accountability.

Step 4: The Decision Maker to inform the decision to relevant people

  • Engage the relevant people.

  • A decision needs to be executed eventually.

Pro Tips

  • All these steps can be done via a shared document, meetings, or both. I found async communication + regrouping at to be more effective.

  • You want to engage the “right” amount of people — having everybody in a meeting doesn’t help at all. Don’t do that.

  • Prevents one person from holding the meeting hostage or allowing others to agree but not contribute.

  • Encourages more open thinking vs. driving consensus

  • Keep a record.

  • Sharing back is equally important.

Exceptions

Red Flags

Tips

Pitfalls

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decision metrics