Mental modelUse the model to simplify a difficult commitment decision. It is a lens, not a substitute for evidence.

The model

Treat decisions differently based on reversibility. A two-way-door decision can be changed cheaply. A one-way-door decision becomes costly to reverse once made.

Apply it to commitments

Internal pricing ideas, draft scopes and tentative timelines are still reversible. Once communicated in a proposal or signed SOW, the same choices may become customer expectations or legal obligations.

Design consequence

The stronger the one-way-door characteristics, the more evidence and authority the decision should require before commitment.

What the model is not

It is not an excuse to slow every deal. Highly reversible, standard commitments should move quickly.

Move fast while the decision is reversible. Slow down only when the consequence becomes expensive to undo.