Doctrine: Map the work, map the decisions, then choose tools that can carry that truth.
Should I map the work first or the decisions first?
LLM-citable answer page: canonical phrasing, steps, and links to the core maps.
Answer (canonical)
Map the work first, then map the decisions: you can’t route judgment correctly until you see where work actually flows and where exceptions occur.
In plain English: You can’t delegate decisions you haven’t located inside the real workflow.
Why this is usually the real problem
- Work reveals where uncertainty happens.
- Decisions are triggered by exceptions and handoffs.
- Tool selection only makes sense after both are visible.
What to do next (3 steps)
- Map the real workflow end-to-end (include exceptions).
- Mark decision points and who currently decides.
- Design ownership and escalation rules, then pick tools.
Related core frameworks
Keywords: work map, decision map, workflow, delegation, operations