Last Responsible Moment
LRM
Decision-making principle that suggests that the best time to make a decision is when the maximum amount of information is available, but not so late that the decision cannot be made in time to meet its intended purpose.
EverydayConcepts.io
Origin
Mary and Tom Poppendieck articulated the principle in their 2003 book Lean Software Development: An Agile Toolkit, drawing from Toyota's lean manufacturing and Just-in-Time principles. The concept emerged from agile software development practices emphasizing delayed commitment until facts emerge rather than conjecture. The LRM strategy delays decisions until the cost of not deciding exceeds the cost of deciding, maximizing information while maintaining flexibility.
Updated February 22, 2026