Reversibility Test Protocol

A binary classification protocol for matching decision speed to decision stakes, based on Jeff Bezos's Type 1/Type 2 door framework. The protocol: (1) State the decision clearly. (2) Ask: 'If this decision turns out badly, can I undo it or recover from it within a reasonable timeframe and at reasonable cost?' (3) If YES — it's a Type 2 (two-way door) decision: decide quickly, default to action, don't over-analyze. Examples: trying a new tool, rearranging a process, launching an experiment, hiring a contractor. (4) If NO — it's a Type 1 (one-way door) decision: slow down, gather more information, consult others, use heavier decision frameworks. Examples: selling a company, getting married, moving countries, signing a 10-year lease. (5) Key calibration: Most decisions that FEEL irreversible are actually reversible. The test exposes this asymmetry. Estimate the actual reversal cost in time, money, and social capital — not the imagined cost.

When to use it

As the FIRST filter for any decision, before deciding how much analysis to invest. Particularly valuable in organizations suffering from analysis paralysis, excessive approval chains, or a culture of perfect-before-launching. Use it to diagnose whether you're over-investing in low-stakes decisions or under-investing in high-stakes ones.

How it can help

Eliminates the most common decision-making error in organizations and personal life: treating reversible decisions with irreversible-level caution. This single distinction — is it a one-way or two-way door? — can 10x your decision speed on the 90% of decisions that are actually reversible. Immediately deployable: for every pending decision, ask the reversibility question before applying any other analysis.