# Performance Investigation Brief

Proposed intake worksheet. Capture the reported problem, available evidence and next decision. Leave missing facts marked **unknown**; keep observations separate from hypotheses.

**Brief title / date / prepared by:** ______________________________________

1. **Affected workflow** — Action, user role, environment and successful completion in everyday terms.

   __________________________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________________________

2. **Impact** — Reported interruption, workaround or consequence; affected scope and source.

   __________________________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________________________

3. **Conditions and recent changes** — When noticed, pattern, conditions and changes; suspected or established relationship?

   __________________________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________________________

4. **Evidence available** — Records and locations; context, coverage, source and permitted access.

   __________________________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________________________

5. **Unknowns and competing explanations** — Missing facts, hypotheses, and exclusions supported within a stated scope.

   __________________________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________________________

6. **Constraints and correctness** — Access/reproduction limits and behavior that must be preserved.

   __________________________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________________________

7. **Owner and collaborators** — Next-step owner; workflow confirmer; evidence/access contacts.

   __________________________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________________________

8. **Next decision** — Question, observation needed, responsible person and review point.

   __________________________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________________________

For exact timer boundaries, eligible attempts and targets, use the [workflow measurement contract](https://steveleggett.dev/writing/measure-the-workflow-not-just-the-request). For a candidate change, use the [prediction record](https://steveleggett.dev/before-a-performance-fix-write-the-prediction).

Guide: [Turn “It’s Slow” Into a Performance Investigation Brief](https://steveleggett.dev/writing/performance-investigation-brief).

[Steve Leggett · steveleggett.dev](https://steveleggett.dev)