---
artifact_id: A06
name: Tailoring Decision Record
template_version: 1.0.0
status: Template · Active
category: Governance
authority: "PMBOK8 Guide §3 · Table 2-1"
source_type: synthesis
file_path: artifacts/planning-and-baselines/A06-tailoring-decision-record-template.md
---

# A06 — Tailoring Decision Record Template

**Artifact ID:** A06  
**Artifact Name:** Tailoring Decision Record  
**Template Version:** 1.0.0  
**Status:** Template · Active  
**Authority:** PMBOK8 Guide §3 Tailoring · Guide Table 2-1 · Governance Performance Domain §2.1  
**Source Type:** synthesis  
**File Path:** `artifacts/planning-and-baselines/A06-tailoring-decision-record-template.md`

> **Usage note:** Complete this record at project setup when the delivery approach and governance model are selected. Update it whenever a material tailoring change is approved. This single record replaces separate DNA scans, tailoring logs, and governance waiver forms. One record per project.

---

## Section 1 — Project Reference

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| **Project Name** | [FIELD: Project name] |
| **Project ID** | [FIELD: Project ID] |
| **Record Owner** | [FIELD: Project manager name] |
| **Record Version** | [FIELD: e.g. 1.0] |
| **Date** | [FIELD: YYYY-MM-DD] |
| **Approved By** | [FIELD: Sponsor name or N/A if within PM authority] |

---

## Section 2 — Project Characteristics

[FIELD: Describe the key characteristics of this project that drive tailoring decisions. Be specific — these characteristics are the evidence basis for all choices below.]

| Characteristic | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **Complexity level** | Low / Medium / High / Very High | [FIELD: Basis for rating] |
| **Uncertainty level** | Low / Medium / High / Very High | [FIELD: Basis for rating] |
| **Stakeholder count and diversity** | Low / Medium / High | [FIELD: e.g. 3 internal stakeholders vs. 20+ external] |
| **Regulatory / compliance requirements** | None / Low / Significant | [FIELD: Applicable regulations or standards] |
| **Team size and distribution** | [FIELD: e.g. 5 co-located / 12 distributed] | [FIELD: Notes] |
| **Schedule criticality** | Low / Medium / High | [FIELD: e.g. hard regulatory deadline] |
| **Budget sensitivity** | Low / Medium / High | [FIELD: e.g. fixed-price contract] |
| **Technology novelty** | Proven / Mixed / New / Experimental | [FIELD: Notes] |
| **Organizational familiarity** | Standard / Moderate / Low | [FIELD: Has org done this before?] |

---

## Section 3 — Selected Delivery Approach and Lifecycle

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| **Selected approach** | Predictive / Adaptive (Agile) / Iterative / Incremental / Hybrid |
| **Selected lifecycle** | [FIELD: Specific lifecycle pattern — e.g. waterfall, sprint-based, phase-gate, rolling wave] |
| **Selection rationale** | [FIELD: Why this approach fits the project characteristics above. Reference at least one characteristic from Section 2.] |
| **Approaches considered but not selected** | [FIELD: What else was considered and why it was rejected — or N/A if only one option was viable] |
| **Fit criteria met** | [FIELD: Which characteristics from Section 2 drove this selection?] |

---

## Section 4 — Retained Controls and Artifacts

[FIELD: List the management controls and artifact definitions that will be applied to this project. Only include controls that will actually be used. Size to context.]

| Control / Artifact | ID | Rationale for Retention | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| [FIELD: e.g. Project Charter] | A04 | Mandatory — required for all projects | Sponsor |
| [FIELD: e.g. Risk Management Record] | A19 | [FIELD: Risk level justifies full risk process] | PM |
| [FIELD: e.g. Change Decision Log] | A12 | [FIELD: Baseline change control required] | PM |
| [FIELD: Add rows as needed] | | | |

---

## Section 5 — Removed or Merged Controls

[FIELD: List any standard controls or artifacts that are being waived, merged, or simplified for this project. For each, document the rationale and confirm it does not remove a mandatory compliance control.]

| Control / Artifact | Normal Purpose | Waiver / Merge Decision | Rationale | Risk Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [FIELD: e.g. Separate Procurement Management Plan] | Governs procurement approach | Merged into Integrated PM Plan (A14) | [FIELD: Single low-risk supplier — full plan is waste] | Low |
| [FIELD: Add rows as needed] | | | | |

> **Constraint check:** Confirm that no removal affects: (a) a contractual or regulatory obligation, (b) audit traceability, (c) risk appetite compliance, or (d) change authority requirements.

---

## Section 6 — Approval Thresholds

[FIELD: Define the decision authority thresholds for this project. These govern who can approve what without escalation.]

| Decision Type | T1 — PM Authority | T2 — Delegated Change Authority | T3 — Sponsor / Governing Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost variance / reforecast | [FIELD: e.g. up to 5% of approved budget] | [FIELD: e.g. 5%–15%] | [FIELD: e.g. >15% or any reserve draw] |
| Schedule change | [FIELD: e.g. up to 2 weeks on non-critical path] | [FIELD: e.g. 2–4 weeks or critical path impact] | [FIELD: e.g. milestone date change] |
| Scope change | [FIELD: e.g. clarifications within agreed scope] | [FIELD: e.g. additions within budget tolerance] | [FIELD: e.g. changes affecting value case or funding] |
| Resource addition | [FIELD: e.g. within approved headcount] | [FIELD: e.g. contract extension] | [FIELD: e.g. new FTE or structural change] |
| Risk response activation | [FIELD: e.g. within risk budget] | [FIELD: e.g. response cost >X] | [FIELD: e.g. residual risk above tolerance] |

---

## Section 7 — Exception Record

[FIELD: Record any approved exceptions to organizational standards. Each exception must be explicitly approved.]

| Exception | Standard Being Varied | Rationale | Approved By | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [FIELD: Exception description] | [FIELD: Standard name] | [FIELD: Justification] | [FIELD: Approver] | [FIELD: Date] |

---

## Section 8 — Change Log

| Version | Date | Author | Change Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 | [FIELD: YYYY-MM-DD] | [FIELD: Author] | Initial tailoring decisions at project setup |
| [Version] | [FIELD: YYYY-MM-DD] | [FIELD: Author] | [FIELD: What changed and why] |

---

*Template for: A06 — Tailoring Decision Record*  
*Authority: PMBOK8 Guide §3 Tailoring*  
*See definition file: `artifacts/planning-and-baselines/A06-tailoring-decision-record.md`*
