Specification sheet

Permanent link /mechanisms/patterns/decision-log

MEC-01 Decision log with dissent

Capture high-stakes calls, dissenting views, and follow-ups so governance stays legible to teams and impacted people.

Where it fits

Filters and handoffs

Tagged for Governance, Policy with validator handshakes.

Scholarly metadata

Authorship

Contact: research@ethotechnics.org

Publication details

  • Published: Dec 3, 2025
  • Last updated: Jan 9, 2026
  • Version: v1.1.0
  • DOI: Pending Zenodo deposit

License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Credit Ethotechnics Institute, include the page title + version, and link to the canonical permalink.

Archive snapshot: Wayback capture

Changelog

  • v1.1.0 · 2026-01-09 — Added citation metadata, mechanisms-level authorship details, and structured usage guidance.
  • v1.0.0 · 2025-12-03 — Initial public mechanisms release.

Copy citation (APA/BibTeX)

Cite this page Formats: APA, MLA, Chicago, BibTeX, RIS

Version

v1.1.0

Last updated

Jan 9, 2026

DOI

Pending Zenodo deposit

APA

Ethotechnics Institute Research Team. (2026). MEC-01 Decision log with dissent. Ethotechnics Institute. https://ethotechnics.org/mechanisms/patterns/decision-log

MLA

Ethotechnics Institute Research Team. "MEC-01 Decision log with dissent." Ethotechnics Institute, 2026, https://ethotechnics.org/mechanisms/patterns/decision-log.

Chicago

Ethotechnics Institute Research Team. "MEC-01 Decision log with dissent." Ethotechnics Institute. Jan 9, 2026. https://ethotechnics.org/mechanisms/patterns/decision-log.

BibTeX

@misc{mechanism_decision-log,
  title={MEC-01 Decision log with dissent},
  author={Ethotechnics Institute Research Team},
  year={2026},
  howpublished={Ethotechnics Institute},
  url={https://ethotechnics.org/mechanisms/patterns/decision-log},
  version={v1.1.0}
}

RIS

TY  - WEB
TI  - MEC-01 Decision log with dissent
AU  - Ethotechnics Institute Research Team
PY  - 2026
UR  - https://ethotechnics.org/mechanisms/patterns/decision-log
ER  -

Glossary anchors

Link back to the definitions.

Jump to the glossary terms that frame this mechanism.

Steps

Put the mechanism in motion.

Start with the field cues, then use the assets to keep the work legible.

Assets

Keep outputs reusable.

Link or copy these assets into design docs, runbooks, and briefs so the mechanism travels with the work.

Decision record template

Captures the decision, dissent, and follow-ups with owners.

Plain-language summary

One-paragraph recap teams can paste into briefs or release notes without jargon.

Stewardship calendar entry

Review reminder aligned to maintenance or appeal windows.

Example usage

Recording a launch gate call

A concrete scenario to help teams see how the pieces fit together.

How it plays out

A cross-functional team logs why an automation launch was delayed, notes dissent from support leads, links the appeal path, and schedules a stewardship review in six weeks.

Validators

Pair validators with this mechanism.

Use these tools to size risk and keep the stewardship path visible.

Validator

Burden Modeler

Quantifies task load, cognitive friction, and risk exposure so you can reroute toil before it burns people out.