Project Governance & PMO · Template
Decision Log
Use the Decision Log whenever a project needs a binding decision or approval. Keep the question, options, recommendation, decision-maker, deadline and outcome in one place, and review pending decisions regularly.
Excel
Excel Decision Log
A ready-to-use Excel template with status dropdowns, automatic highlighting of overdue decisions and a metrics overview.
Download Excel ↓Confluence
Confluence Decision Log
A concise decision overview for shared project maintenance, with optional detail pages for more complex decisions.
Go to the decision overview →Use it in Confluence
Copy the formatted template and paste it into a new page in your own Confluence space. Replace the placeholders and fictional examples. You do not need access to my internal Confluence space.
Each decision starts as a single row. The overview remains the master register for status, ownership, deadlines and outcomes. Detailed pages are optional; register data is not maintained twice.
Text and tables can be pasted into Confluence. Add status macros, tasks and links afterwards if needed. Formatting may vary between Confluence editors; there is no automatic synchronisation with Excel.
Wide tables scroll horizontally, including with the keyboard.
1. Project details
Project: [Project name]
Project manager: [Name]
PMO / register owner: [Name]
Review frequency: [e.g. weekly]
Escalation route: [Committee / responsible body]
Last updated: [Date]
2. Decision overview – the master Decision Log
This is the single working register. Each decision has one row; its status, decision-maker, deadline and short outcome are maintained here only. Most decisions need no additional page.
| ID | Decision required / question | Decision-maker | Required by | Status | Impact of delay | Decision / outcome | Reference / link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEC-001 | Approve the pilot at site A? | Steering committee | [Date] | Open | Pilot start may slip | – | – |
| DEC-002 | Use centralised or local testing? | Project manager | [Date] | Under review | Testing plan depends on it | – | [Optional detail page DEC-002] |
| DEC-003 | Approve additional testing resources? | Department head | [Date] | Decided | Testing schedule affected | Two testers approved | – |
Status definitions
- Open: Decision need recorded; active clarification has not yet started.
- Under review: Options, input or approval are being considered.
- Decided: Decision made; record the short outcome and, where useful, its date.
- Deferred: Decision deliberately postponed; set a new review date.
How to use it: Add one row for each decision → name the decision-maker, date and impact → review the status regularly → record the outcome and link any resulting actions. For extensive supporting material, use the reference column.
More complex decision? Show detailed template
3. Optional: detailed decision record on a child page
Use only when needed. For larger, more complex or consequential decisions, create a child page under the Decision Log page. Copy the block below into that child page and replace the placeholders. Link the page from the relevant row in the register under “Reference / link.”
Important: The overview in section 2 remains the single source of truth for status, owner, due date and short outcome. A detail page adds background, options, evaluation and decision rationale. Do not maintain the same operational fields in two places. No automatic synchronisation is configured.
Child-page copy template: DEC-XXX – [Decision title]
Decision ID: DEC-XXX
Decision question: [What exactly needs to be decided?]
Background / context: [Why is the decision needed?]
Options and assessment
| Option | Advantages | Disadvantages / risks | Effort / impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| A – [Label] | [Benefits] | [Drawbacks] | [Impact] |
| B – [Label] | [Benefits] | [Drawbacks] | [Impact] |
Project team's recommendation: [Recommended option and rationale]
Supporting information: [Links to documents, risks, Jira issues and approvals]
Decision rationale / supporting record: [Why was this option chosen? Where is the formal approval recorded?]
Consequences and follow-up actions: [Impacts, action items and links to their main tracking location]
Back to the master register: [Link to Decision Log overview]
Keep current status, decision-maker, due date and short outcome in the main register only. This detail page provides supporting context.
4. Using the template in Confluence
- Copy this page into your project space and replace the fictional entries in section 2.
- Add one new register row for each decision.
- Optional: For complex decisions, create a child page, copy only the section 3 record into it and link it from the register.
- Remove or collapse the example template block on your project page if preferred; it is not a second register.
- Confluence status macros and Jira links may be added as required; this template includes no automated metrics or Jira integration.
5. How it differs from Excel
Both formats provide the same core register. The Excel version adds dropdowns, due-date calculations and summary metrics. Confluence provides a shared project page and optional linked detail pages. The two versions do not synchronise automatically.