The Decision Accountability Framework (DAF)
Making professional decisions explainable without becoming legalistic
Organizations rarely face accountability problems because a decision was careless. More often, difficulties arise when the reasoning that made a decision reasonable at the time it was taken can no longer be clearly reconstructed. During audits, complaints, litigation, or organizational transitions, decisions are reviewed with the benefit of hindsight, while the original context and professional judgment have faded.
The Decision Accountability Framework (DAF) provides a structured and lightweight way to make decision reasoning explicit at the moment decisions are made. It does not prescribe outcomes, evaluate decisions, or introduce additional procedures. Instead, it creates a stable decision structure that allows organizations to explain how professional judgment was exercised under uncertainty, without turning documentation into legal justification.
DAF focuses on decision traceability rather than outcomes. By guiding professionals to briefly articulate what was known at the time, which considerations were relevant, and how uncertainty and potential impact were weighed, DAF makes decision-making consistent, explainable, and transferable across individuals and teams. DAF is not a legal defense framework, a compliance tool, or an audit instrument. Its purpose is explanation, not defense. The framework is designed to integrate into existing workflows and to remain usable under operational pressure, producing decision records that remain interpretable long after a decision has been taken. DAF is used in contexts where professional judgment carries significant responsibility and may later require explanation, including public sector organizations, healthcare and social services, child welfare, regulatory bodies, and corporate governance environments. For a detailed explanation of the framework, its underlying principles, please refer to the DAF White Paper.
Licensed access to the Decision Accountability Framework includes access to supporting materials and structured learning resources designed to facilitate responsible use of the framework.
Access to the Decision Accountability Framework is provided through licensed use of the framework and its supporting materials.
The framework is not legal advice and does not replace legal counsel, regulatory requirements, or professional standards.
Request Access to the Decision Accountability Framework
Access to the Decision Accountability Framework (DAF) is provided through licensed use.Organizations requesting access are expected to have reviewed the DAF White Paper and the accompanying framework documents prior to submitting this request. Submission of this form constitutes a request for licensed access. You will be contacted by email for further steps.