Why record the reason behind a decision?
A team inherits a design and asks why it was built that way. The answer may depend on constraints that have since disappeared. A decision record preserves the context, choice, and consequences, helping later readers distinguish a poor decision from one made under different conditions.
Questions you could explore
- What would a future teammate need to understand before changing the design?
Start reading
- Government Digital Service, The GDS WayDocumenting architecture decisions
The GDS Way explains architecture decision records, their components, and how later decisions can supersede earlier ones.
Ready to try your ideas aloud?
Your topic carries over. Record up to 2½ minutes, depending on your plan.