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Philosophy in Action

How Abacus approached a complex decision. Information incomplete, options abundant, cost of error high.

The Situation

Too many directions. Limited time. No clear criteria.

Three constraints: limited time and attention, no appetite for rework, high cost of incorrect decisions.

Most businesses have a decision problem, not a tooling problem.

Step 1 of 3

Decision Filter

What Actually Needs to Be Decided

A simple decision filter

  • What decision actually needs to be made?
  • What information would change that decision?
  • What can be safely ignored?

Most options don't matter. The filter removes noise.

Decision Filter

What decision needs to be made?

Which direction moves the business forward

What information would change it?

What evidence would shift the choice

What can be ignored?

What feels important but doesn't affect the outcome

Forward motion with fewer regrets — by deciding what mattered and ignoring the rest.

How Abacus approaches decisions.