Is it a one-way or a two-way door?

After the two pizza rule, here’s another Amazon guideline around decision making.

When faced with a decision to make, the group will ask, “is this a one way or a two way door?”

The metaphor is a good one and self explanatory, the one way door means once a decision is made we can’t go back. A two way door allows the group to back track if the decision is shown to be flawed.

And the type of door acts as a signpost that helps the team with how fast the decision can be made and how much data / consultation is needed to mitigate a one way door decision.

Simple and effective