What is a decision log?
Updated Oct 25, 2026
Definition
A decision log is a running record of the decisions a team makes: what was decided, who decided it, when, and why. It lets anyone check what was agreed without searching old meeting notes or asking around.
Why teams keep a decision log
- No re-deciding: When a topic comes up again, the team can see it was already settled, and why.
- Clear ownership: Each decision has someone responsible for carrying it out.
- New people catch up fast: The log explains how the project got where it is.
- Changes are visible: When a decision is updated or reversed, the log shows what changed and when.
| Decision | Decided by | Owner | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch the EU region on Nov 14, not Nov 1 | Priya | Ravi | Oct 16 | Active |
| Move billing to annual-first pricing | Leadership sync | Mei | Oct 9 | Done |
| Use vendor X for SMS | Ops review | Dev | Sep 30 | Reversed |
Decision log vs. meeting minutes
Meeting minutes
Everything discussed in one meeting, in order. One document per meeting.
Decision log
Only the decisions, across all meetings, kept up to date as they change. One list for the whole team.
How Acta keeps a decision log for you
Acta reads each meeting and adds its decisions to your log under My meetings → Outcomes → Decision log. For every decision it keeps the statement, topic, who decided, the owner, the exact words and the moment it was decided, and the action items that carry it out. When a later meeting confirms, updates or reverses a decision, the same entry is updated, so the log always shows the latest. You can search the log or export it as CSV.
Keep a decision log from meetingsFAQ
Who should own the decision log?
Usually the team lead or project manager. With an AI meeting assistant, the log is filled in automatically and the owner only reviews it.
What's the difference between a decision log and a RAID log?
A RAID log tracks Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies as well as decisions. A decision log tracks decisions only.
What if Acta logs something that wasn't a decision?
Mark it “Not a decision” and it moves to the hidden list. You can also change the owner.