Time from signal to decision to action. How fast can your organization recognize a need and respond to it?
SIGNAL → DECISION → ACTION
Decisions happen in hours to days. Authority is distributed. Most choices don't require executive approval. Teams are empowered to act on local information without escalation.
Decisions take months to years. Budget cycles, committee reviews, and stakeholder alignment create massive latency. By the time you decide, the opportunity has often passed.
Decision Latency is the metabolic rate of the organization. It determines how fast everything else can move.
You can have brilliant people, perfect information, and flawless processes. But if decisions take six months, you're still moving at six-month speed. Decision Latency is the ceiling on organizational velocity.
Faster iteration cycles in field-state orgs
Average budget reallocation time in particle state
Of slow decisions are process, not analysis
API decisions ship same-day. No committee reviews for standard changes.
Squad autonomy means most decisions happen at team level.
Multi-year capital allocation cycles. Board approval for major investments.
Legislative cycles, budget years, regulatory review periods.
Scoring: If most answers suggest fast, autonomous decision-making, score 1-3. If most answers suggest multi-layered approval and long timelines, score 7-10.