AIYING ATOMIC ARTIFACTS #1 | Turn an uncertain choice into a reasoned decision and a clear next action.

AIYING ATOMIC ARTIFACTS #1

The One-Page Decision Brief

Turn an uncertain choice into a reasoned decision and a clear next action.

We often ask AI questions and receive useful answers. Yet an answer does not automatically become a decision. It may present too many possibilities, leave important trade-offs unresolved or end without a clear next step.

The One-Page Decision Brief closes that gap. It converts a question, alternatives and constraints into a compact artifact that a person or team can examine, discuss and act upon.

An AIYING Atomic Artifact is a small, focused, AI-powered output—designed for one purpose and one usable outcome.

What is a One-Page Decision Brief?

A One-Page Decision Brief is a compact artifact that presents a decision, compares the available options, recommends one course of action and identifies what should happen next.

Its value comes from disciplined compression. It does not attempt to capture everything known about a subject. It captures what is necessary to make one specific decision responsibly.

The problem it solves

Decision-making frequently becomes difficult for predictable reasons:

• The decision question is vague.
• The desired outcome has not been stated.
• Options are discussed without common evaluation criteria.
• Constraints are discovered too late.
• Recommendations are offered without explaining assumptions or risks.
• A discussion ends without ownership or a next action.

The One-Page Decision Brief creates a common structure. It makes the reasoning visible, keeps the discussion focused and concludes with action.

When should you use it?

Use this artifact when the decision is important enough to require comparison, but not so complex that it needs a full feasibility study or formal investment case.

Context	Example decision
Education	Should we conduct an awareness seminar or a hands-on workshop?
Business	Should we build the capability internally or engage a specialist?
Career	Which course best supports my target role?
Project	Which of three proposed features should be developed first?
Personal	Which available option best fits my budget, priorities and timeline?

Inputs required

A strong brief depends on the quality of its inputs. Before using the Power Prompt, provide:

1. Decision question: the exact choice that must be made.
2. Desired outcome: what the decision should help accomplish.
3. Options: realistic alternatives, including “defer” or “do nothing” when relevant.
4. Constraints: budget, time, policy, people, technology or other limits.
5. Evidence: known facts, costs, requirements and previous results.
6. Decision criteria: what matters most when comparing the options.

If information is incomplete, say so. AI should distinguish supplied evidence from assumptions instead of silently filling gaps.

Anatomy of the artifact

Section	Function
Decision Question	Defines the exact choice.
Context	Explains why the decision is needed now.
Desired Outcome	Establishes what success should look like.
Options Considered	Lists realistic alternatives.
Comparison	Assesses the options using common criteria.
Recommendation	States the preferred course of action.
Reasoning	Shows why the recommendation best supports the outcome.
Principal Risk	Identifies the most consequential uncertainty or downside.
Risk Mitigation	Defines how the risk can be reduced or monitored.
Immediate Next Action	Converts the recommendation into movement.

Completed example

Decision Question

Should a college offer a general AI-awareness seminar or a three-hour hands-on AI workshop for students?

Context

The college wants students to begin using AI responsibly for learning and academic work. Time and laboratory availability are limited.

Desired Outcome

Students should leave with a basic, observable ability to frame a task, collaborate with AI and judge the output.

Options Considered

Option A: A large AI-awareness seminar.
Option B: A three-hour hands-on workshop in batches.
Option C: Defer the programme until a longer course can be developed.

Comparison

The seminar can reach more students at lower operational complexity, but provides limited evidence of practical capability. The workshop requires a computer laboratory, internet access and smaller batches, but allows participants to practise and receive feedback. Deferring may permit a more comprehensive programme later, but postpones immediate capability development.

Recommendation

Conduct the three-hour hands-on workshop in manageable batches.

Reasoning

The desired outcome is practical capability rather than awareness alone. A hands-on format most directly supports that outcome because students must perform tasks and judge outputs during the session.

Principal Risk

Insufficient computer access or an oversized batch could reduce participation and turn the workshop into a demonstration.

Risk Mitigation

Confirm one internet-connected device per participant and cap each batch at an effective size before scheduling.

Immediate Next Action

Confirm the participant profile, batch size, computer-laboratory availability and proposed date.

Note: This is an illustrative example. The recommendation should be reconsidered if the institution's objectives, infrastructure, budget or participant profile differ.

Complete Power Prompt

COPY, COMPLETE AND USE

Create a one-page decision brief for [decision to be made]. My desired outcome is [outcome]. The available options are [options], and the important constraints are [constraints].

For each option, assess its principal benefits, limitations, risks, required resources and likely consequences. Identify any important assumptions or missing information. Recommend the most suitable option and explain the reasoning clearly. State the principal risk associated with the recommendation, how it can be mitigated, and the immediate next action.

Present the result under these headings: Decision Question, Context, Desired Outcome, Options Considered, Comparison, Recommendation, Reasoning, Principal Risk, Risk Mitigation and Immediate Next Action. Keep the complete brief concise enough to fit on one page. Do not invent facts; clearly label assumptions and uncertainties.

AIYING One-Page Decision Canvas

This Canvas is the working surface for the artifact. Complete it before using the Power Prompt, or use the AI-generated brief to fill it afterwards. Keep every entry concise. The objective is to make the decision visible on one page.

AIYING ATOMIC ARTIFACTS #1
ONE-PAGE DECISION CANVAS

Date: ____________
Decision owner: ____________

1. DECISION QUESTION What exact choice must be made? ____________________________________________________________
2. CONTEXT Why is this decision needed now? ____________________________ ____________________________	3. DESIRED OUTCOME What should this decision accomplish? ____________________________ ____________________________
4. OPTIONS CONSIDERED A: ____________________    B: ____________________    C/status quo: ____________________
5. COMPARISON Compare each option using the same criteria. Option Benefits Limitations/Risks Resources/Consequences A B C
6. RECOMMENDATION Which option should be chosen? ____________________________	7. REASONING Why does it best support the outcome? ____________________________
8. PRINCIPAL RISK Most important downside or uncertainty ____________________________	9. RISK MITIGATION How will it be reduced or monitored? ____________________________
10. IMMEDIATE NEXT ACTION Action: ____________________    Owner: ____________________    By when: ____________________

One decision. One recommendation. One clear next action.
AIYING — Accomplishing with AI

How to use the Canvas

1. Frame: complete boxes 1–4 using facts already available to you.
2. Generate: insert that information into the Complete Power Prompt.
3. Judge: verify the AI's comparison, assumptions and recommendation.
4. Complete: record the final recommendation, risk and next action in boxes 6–10.
5. Act: assign the next action to a person and a date.

Tip: On a computer, use your browser's print command to save this Canvas as a PDF. You may also copy the headings into a document or notebook and complete them manually.

How to judge the output

Before accepting the AI-generated brief, apply the TAJ discipline: Think → Ask → Judge. Check whether:

• The decision question describes one real choice.
• The desired outcome is explicit.
• The comparison uses consistent and relevant criteria.
• The recommendation follows from the evidence provided.
• Facts, assumptions and uncertainties are clearly distinguished.
• The principal risk is meaningful rather than generic.
• The next action is specific enough to begin.
• The brief can genuinely be read on one page.

AI can structure and compare information, but responsibility for the decision remains with the person or organisation making it. For high-stakes legal, medical, financial, safety or policy decisions, the brief should support—not replace—qualified professional judgement and appropriate review.

Common mistakes

• Asking a broad question: “What should our organisation do about AI?” is too wide for one atomic artifact.
• Providing no criteria: without priorities, the recommendation may reflect generic assumptions.
• Treating fluent language as evidence: a confident explanation may still contain unsupported claims.
• Using false precision: do not assign scores or probabilities unless their basis is defensible.
• Ignoring the status quo: doing nothing or delaying can sometimes be a legitimate option.
• Ending with a recommendation only: a decision without a next action may remain an intention.

How it connects to the next artifact

The One-Page Decision Brief determines what should be done. The next AIYING Atomic Artifact—the Action Checklist—will convert that decision into an ordered, verifiable sequence of steps.

One decision. One recommendation. One clear next action.

Save the prompt. Use the artifact. Accomplish the outcome.

AIYING — Accomplishing with AI

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