Jillian is mapping her co-worker's decision-making process. she puts a few words in braces alongside a shaded rectangle. what does the use of the braces signify about the words the braces enclose?

The use of braces explains the meaning of the words preceding the brace. Here Jillian actually mapping her co-worker's decision-making process so the braces probably contain decisions made on some circumstances. The circumstances may be given outside the brace.