---
aliases: ["Policy Memo"]
tags: [pm-skills, skill]
skill: policy-memo
description: "Write a decision-ready policy memo that frames an issue and recommends an option. Use when asked to write a policy memo, options paper, decision memo for a principal/minister/executive, or brief a decision-maker on a policy choice. Produces a tight memo: the issue, background, options with trade-offs, a clear recommendation, and implementation/risks — written for a busy decision-maker who reads the first paragraph."
---

# Policy Memo Skill

A policy memo exists to drive a *decision*, not to demonstrate research. The decision-maker reads the top and
wants: what's the issue, what are my realistic options, what do you recommend, and what happens if I say yes.
This skill writes that — BLUF (bottom line up front), honest options with trade-offs, and a defensible
recommendation.

## Required Inputs

Ask for these only if they aren't already provided:

- **The issue / decision** — what must be decided and why now.
- **The decision-maker** — who reads it (minister, exec, board) and what they care about / can authorize.
- **Context** — relevant background, constraints (legal, budget, political), stakeholders.
- **The options** — the realistic choices (or ask the skill to develop them), and any evidence/data.

## Output Format

### MEMO — [subject]
**To / From / Date / Re** — standard header.

**Bottom line (BLUF)** — 2–3 sentences: the issue, your recommended option, and the key reason. A busy reader should get the decision from this alone.

**Issue** — the precise question to be decided, and why it needs a decision now.

**Background** — only what's needed to decide (concise; detail goes to an annex). Facts, constraints, what's at stake.

**Options** — 2–4 realistic options (including status quo). For each: what it is, pros, cons, cost/feasibility, and who's affected. A comparison table helps:

| Option | Pros | Cons | Cost / feasibility |
|---|---|---|---|

**Recommendation** — the option you recommend and *why* it best fits the goals and constraints. Be decisive; acknowledge the main trade-off you're accepting.

**Implementation & risks** — key steps, timeline, who does what, and the main risks + mitigations.

**Next step / decision requested** — exactly what you're asking the reader to approve.

## Quality Checks

- [ ] The bottom line up front gives the recommendation in the first paragraph
- [ ] The issue is framed as a precise, decidable question
- [ ] Options include the status quo and show honest trade-offs (cost/feasibility, not just pros)
- [ ] The recommendation is decisive and justified against the stated goals/constraints
- [ ] Implementation, risks, and the specific decision requested are all present

## Anti-Patterns

- [ ] Do not bury the recommendation at the end — decision-makers read the top
- [ ] Do not present a fake menu (one real option + straw men) — options must be genuine
- [ ] Do not dump all the research — include only what's needed to decide; annex the rest
- [ ] Do not hedge into non-recommendation — name a choice and own the trade-off
- [ ] Do not ignore feasibility/cost/politics — an un-implementable recommendation is useless

## Based On

Government & executive decision-memo practice (BLUF, options analysis, evidence-based recommendation, implementation).

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