The Decision Governance Ladder
1. Pre-Commitment Screen
2. Governance Orientation
2. Governance Orientation
Required entry point
The Pre-Commitment Screen determines whether a proposed action is eligible for decision governance.
It confirms that:
- A live, named decision exists
- Decision rights are explicit or delegated
- The proposed action creates irreversible exposure
- Formal adjudication is appropriate
Outputs: Eligible · Deferred pending clarification · Not admissible
The Pre-Commitment Screen must clear for work to continue and a Decision Brief to be issued.
2. Governance Orientation
2. Governance Orientation
2. Governance Orientation
Non-binding orientation
The Governance Orientation Review frames the decision environment before adjudication.
It surfaces:
- Irreversible constraints
- Dominant uncertainty
- Plausible failure modes
- Structural sources of fragility
No determination is issued. No recommendation is made. This stage orients but does not to validate action.
3. Decision Adjudication
2. Governance Orientation
4. Decision Validity Review
Core adjudication
The Decision Adjudication Review is where governance judgment is exercised.
It evaluates whether proceeding, deferring, or refusing the proposed commitment is admissible under irreversible physical, regulatory, capital, and governance constraints, using failure-mode-first reasoning and plausible-world evaluation.
This is the only stage that produces a Decision Brief.
Decision outcomes: Proceed · Defer · Refuse
4. Decision Validity Review
6. Standing Authority Guardrail
4. Decision Validity Review
Independent check
Decision Validity Review is an independent check conducted prior to issuance of any Decision Brief.
It verifies:
- Jurisdictional correctness
- Procedural integrity
- Assumption explicitness
- Proper application of decision screens
- That refusal and deferral were genuinely admissible
DVR does not evaluate outcomes or recommend alternatives. A Decision Brief may not be issued without DVR clearance.
5. Decision Record Hardening
6. Standing Authority Guardrail
6. Standing Authority Guardrail
Post-decision durability
Decision Record Hardening formalizes and preserves the issued decision rationale.
It documents:
- Irreversible constraints
- Dominant uncertainties
- Assumptions and validity bounds
- Refusal or deferral logic
- Conditions required for reconsideration
This record is auditable, reconstructible, and designed to endure scrutiny over time. For smaller decisions, DRH may be merged into the Decision Brief itself.
6. Standing Authority Guardrail
6. Standing Authority Guardrail
6. Standing Authority Guardrail
Optional, ongoing
The Standing Authority Guardrail establishes a governance boundary after a decision has been issued.
It prevents:
- Silent scope expansion
- Authority drift
- Post-hoc reinterpretation of the decision rationale
This stage is used selectively for high-stakes or long-horizon commitments.