Decision Logic
The reasoning process an experienced person follows to arrive at the right decision.
What it means
Decision logic describes which signals an expert watches, how they weigh them, and why they choose a specific option. It's the most valuable — and hardest to capture — layer of know-how.
Why it matters
Procedures tell you "what" to do; decision logic tells you "why" and "when." Without it, a new hire applies rules even in situations where they don't hold.
A real-world example
A dispatcher doesn't cut output based on a table, but on a combination of temperature, equipment history, and a load forecast. That combination is his decision logic.
The way an organization and individuals choose between options in operational situations.
A structured decision tree that maps out options and their consequences.
Unspoken knowledge and experience that exists only in people's heads.
Deep specialist knowledge gained through years of hands-on practice in a specific field.
The part of an organization's knowledge whose loss would directly threaten safety, quality, or continuity.