operating-loop.md

Operating Loop

Decision Lab is most useful when it is run as a cadence, not as a one-off prompt.

Daily Triage

Use this when decisions are actively moving.

node bin/decision-lab.js next decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out outputs/next.md
node bin/decision-lab.js prioritize decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out outputs/priorities.md
node bin/decision-lab.js playbook decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out outputs/playbook.md
node bin/decision-lab.js executive decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out outputs/executive.md
node bin/decision-lab.js status decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out outputs/status.md
node bin/decision-lab.js scorecard decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out outputs/scorecard.md
node bin/decision-lab.js taxonomy decisions --out outputs/taxonomy.md
node bin/decision-lab.js triage decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out outputs/triage.md
node bin/decision-lab.js calendar decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --horizon 30 --out outputs/calendar.md
node bin/decision-lab.js commitments decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --horizon 14 --out outputs/commitments.md
node bin/decision-lab.js dependencies decisions --out outputs/dependencies.md
node bin/decision-lab.js stale decisions --days 14 --as-of 2026-08-01 --out outputs/stale.md
node bin/decision-lab.js debt decisions --days 14 --as-of 2026-08-01 --out outputs/debt.md
node bin/decision-lab.js agenda decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --horizon 14 --out outputs/agenda.md
node bin/decision-lab.js questions decisions --out outputs/questions.md
node bin/decision-lab.js hypotheses decisions --out outputs/hypotheses.md
node bin/decision-lab.js red-team decisions --out outputs/red-team.md
node bin/decision-lab.js guardrails decisions --out outputs/guardrails.md
node bin/decision-lab.js review-pack decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out-dir outputs/reviews/2026-08-01

Daily questions:

• Which decision is blocked by missing evidence?
• Which playbook command should run first?
• Which triage lane has the most urgent work?
• Which type, class, owner, or urgency bucket is overrepresented?
• Which dated event needs attention before the next review?
• Which decision has a deadline before the evidence is good enough?
• Which commitment is overdue, near-term, or missing an owner?
• Which dependency or blocker is stopping execution?
• Which high-impact risk has no owner?
• Which stale record needs to be promoted, closed, or deleted from active attention?
• Which debt item would compound fastest if ignored for another week?
• Which open question or weak evidence item is blocking the next judgment?
• Which hypothesis has the weakest evidence or strongest counterargument?
• Which guardrail says this decision should stop, narrow, or reverse?

Public Repository Check

Use this before pushing framework changes or making a repository public.

npm run privacy:check
node bin/decision-lab.js privacy-check --out outputs/privacy.md

The check should pass in the public framework repository. It should fail in a real private decision workspace, because that workspace is expected to contain private records and local config.

Before Committing

Use this before buying, hiring, changing pricing, shipping a strategy, or approving spend.

node bin/decision-lab.js checklist decisions/active/pricing.json --out outputs/checklists/pricing.md
node bin/decision-lab.js research-plan decisions/active/pricing.json --out outputs/research/pricing.md
node bin/decision-lab.js premortem decisions/active/pricing.json --out outputs/premortems/pricing.md
node bin/decision-lab.js gate decisions/active --min-score 0.85 --operational --out outputs/gate.md

Commit only when:

• the recommendation has an explicit runner-up
• the strongest opposing case is visible
• the most fragile assumption has a test
• the risk trigger is observable
• the review date is scheduled

Weekly Review

Use this to operate the whole decision portfolio.

node bin/decision-lab.js ledger decisions --out outputs/ledger.md
node bin/decision-lab.js risks decisions --out outputs/risks.md
node bin/decision-lab.js risk-heatmap decisions --out outputs/risk-heatmap.md
node bin/decision-lab.js assumptions decisions --out outputs/assumptions.md
node bin/decision-lab.js assumption-tests decisions --out outputs/assumption-tests.md
node bin/decision-lab.js evidence-scorecard decisions --out outputs/evidence-scorecard.md
node bin/decision-lab.js signals decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out outputs/signals.md
node bin/decision-lab.js commitments decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out outputs/commitments.md
node bin/decision-lab.js dependencies decisions --out outputs/dependencies.md
node bin/decision-lab.js timeline decisions --out outputs/timeline.md
node bin/decision-lab.js dashboard decisions --out outputs/dashboard.html

Weekly questions:

• Which decision has the worst evidence-to-confidence mismatch?
• Which assumptions repeat across multiple decisions?
• Which decision should be split into a smaller reversible pilot?
• Which reviewed decision changed how future decisions should be framed?
• Which signal, commitment, or dependency should be checked before the next review?

Monthly Operating Pack

Use this to create a durable review folder.

node bin/decision-lab.js pack decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out-dir outputs/packs/2026-08-01
node bin/decision-lab.js weekly decisions --as-of 2026-08-01 --out-dir outputs/weekly/2026-08-01
node bin/decision-lab.js serve decisions --as-of 2026-08-01

The pack includes index.md, ledger, dashboard, exports, taxonomy, calendar, calibration, outcomes, principles, themes, commitments, dependencies, lessons, due reviews, review-pack index, risks, assumptions, sources, red-team, scenarios, sensitivities, executive summary, scorecard, monthly review, next actions, priorities, timeline, and doctor checks.

Use weekly when you want a smaller working folder for agenda, executive summary, scorecard, taxonomy, triage, calendar, debt, questions, hypotheses, themes, commitments, dependencies, red-team, scenarios, sensitivities, evidence, assumptions, risks, and due-review worksheets.

The GitHub Actions Operating Pack workflow runs weekly and can also be started manually. It verifies the repo, generates example operating and weekly packs, and uploads both as workflow artifacts.

After Outcome

Use this when the decision has played out enough to learn from it.

node bin/decision-lab.js review decisions/active/pricing.json --out outputs/reviews/pricing.md
node bin/decision-lab.js close decisions/active/pricing.json --outcome "Pilot completed." --lesson "Finance reporting needed earlier."
node bin/decision-lab.js calibration decisions --out outputs/calibration.md
node bin/decision-lab.js outcomes decisions --out outputs/outcomes.md
node bin/decision-lab.js principles decisions --out outputs/principles.md
node bin/decision-lab.js archive-plan decisions --destination decisions/archive --out outputs/archive-plan.md

The goal is not to prove the decision was right. The goal is to make the next similar decision sharper.