choice-architecture-audit

name	choice-architecture-audit
description	Run a Thaler-inspired choice architecture audit for products, policies, forms, onboarding, pricing, defaults, incentives, and user workflows. Use when Codex is asked to reduce friction, improve decisions, design ethical nudges, identify sludge, or create an intervention plan without removing user choice.

Choice Architecture Audit

Overview

Use this skill to inspect how choices are presented and redesign the environment so users can make better decisions with less friction. Keep nudges transparent, reversible, and aligned with user welfare.

Workflow

1. Map the decision journey: user, goal, options, default, timing, required effort, feedback, and consequences.
2. Identify friction and sludge: unnecessary steps, confusing labels, hidden costs, bad defaults, and delayed feedback.
3. Identify behavioral risks: inertia, present bias, loss aversion, social proof, overload, scarcity, and framing.
4. Redesign choice architecture: defaults, ordering, simplification, reminders, feedback, opt-out paths, and error recovery.
5. Check ethics: preserve choice, disclose material effects, avoid manipulation, and protect vulnerable users.
6. Define measurement: target behavior, guardrail metrics, A/B test or before/after comparison, review date.
7. Produce an intervention plan.

Output

Return:

• current choice map
• friction/sludge findings
• proposed nudges
• ethical risk review
• measurement plan
• rollout steps

Resources

• references/process-checklist.md
• references/source-notes.md