Use this when
The situation fits this depth.
- A defined high-consequence decision
- Executive trade-offs crossing strategy, operations, people, or technology
- A bounded need for recurring external judgment
Parallel path
Strategic Decision Advisory
Use external judgment without surrendering leadership authority.
Strategic Decision Advisory supports a defined decision domain or recurring period of complexity. It is not coaching, reassurance, or unlimited access.
Not for
This should not become a shortcut.
- Vague founder support
- Unlimited access or outsourced decision authority
- A problem that still requires evidence-led diagnosis
Inputs and evidence
Depth begins with evidence, not terminology.
SE Ocean separates observation, evidence, hypothesis, interpretation, and recommendation throughout the work.
- Defined decision domain
- Named decision owner
- Known constraints and trade-offs
- Review cadence and exit point
Concrete outputs
What should exist when this scope ends.
Decision reviews
Decision memo with trade-offs and risks
Priority and boundary tracking
Bounded asynchronous advisory when agreed
Boundaries
Uncertainty should be written down, not hidden.
- The client owns the final decision
- The relationship is reviewed every 90 days
- Continuation must improve internal judgment rather than dependency