R Routes.
Routes is the fourth BEARINGS letter, inside Assess before Gate A. It's the options analysis — a structured comparison of paths to the aim, including the always-evaluated "do nothing" option.
Purpose
Programs that skip Routes are programs that commit to a solution before evaluating alternatives. Routes forces at least two or three options to be laid out side by side — with pros, cons, risks, assumptions, and a recommendation — so the BRD reflects an actual decision, not a foregone conclusion.
Worksheets
Where it fits
Routes sits in Assess before Gate A. It depends on Aims (options must serve the objective) and feeds Instrument (the decision matrix scores the options). Gate A requires a recommended option with an accepted rationale — Routes produces the evidence for that decision.