A new hire asked how we decide things here, and I want to point them at one short section of the handbook. Which version?

Option A is the stronger handbook excerpt because it gives a clearer, more actionable decision rule. It states a crisp principle: small, reversible calls belong to whoever is closest to the work, which directly tells a new hire what authority they have and lets them self-assess. It also defines escalation precisely: when a decision is hard to undo or crosses teams, the process is to write a page and have two people read it before starting. That timing matters because it ensures lightweight review happens before work begins, rather than leaving room for retroactive review. By contrast, Option B is more conversational and has the concrete phrase 'the person doing the work,' but its logic is weaker: 'most calls' softens the rule, 'ask them' can be circular if the reader is the person doing the work, 'ask two people' is vague about what is being asked, and 'bigger than one team' is less precise than 'crosses teams.' Option B also omits the before-start timing. Overall, Option A better mirrors a reversible-versus-irreversible decision framework, gives new hires both clarity about their own authority and a precise escalation procedure, and works better as a short handbook reference.