# AOD Evolution Workflow Document ID: AOD-012 Version: 1.0.0 Status: Approved Depends On: - AOD-001 through AOD-011 Required By: - Every future enhancement --- # Purpose Software development does not end when a product is released. Every enhancement, bug fix, customer request, regulatory change, technology upgrade, and business opportunity has the potential to impact the integrity of the product. The Evolution phase ensures that every future change follows the same disciplined engineering process that produced the original product. --- # Philosophy Every change is an opportunity to improve the product. Every change is also an opportunity to introduce risk. The purpose of Evolution is to maximize improvement while protecting everything that has already been built. --- # Objectives The Evolution phase should: Protect architectural integrity. Reduce technical debt. Maintain governance accuracy. Evaluate every proposed change. Preserve business alignment. Support continuous product improvement. Prevent uncontrolled project drift. --- # Types of Change Every requested change should first be classified. --- ## Defect A correction to existing functionality. Normally proceeds directly to Implementation. --- ## Enhancement An improvement to an existing capability. May require Planning before Implementation. --- ## New Feature Adds new business capability. Normally requires returning to Governance and Planning. --- ## Architectural Change Impacts technology, infrastructure, security, scalability, or system structure. Requires Architecture review before implementation. --- ## Business Change Changes product objectives, target users, business model, or major workflows. Requires returning to Discovery before continuing. --- # AI Responsibilities When a change is requested the AI should determine: What changed? Why did it change? Which governance documents are affected? Which architectural decisions are affected? Which phase should be revisited? What new risks are introduced? What documentation requires updating? --- # Phase Regression Not every change begins at Implementation. The AI should recommend returning to the earliest affected phase. Examples: Minor UI adjustment → Implementation Bug fix → Implementation New report → Planning New integration → Architecture New security model → Architecture New pricing strategy → Governance New customer segment → Discovery --- # Governance Maintenance Throughout the life of the product the AI should continuously: Update governance documents. Protect the Source of Truth. Maintain the Decision Log. Identify architectural drift. Reduce technical debt. Recommend simplifications. Identify opportunities for improvement. --- # Human Responsibilities Review proposed changes. Approve revised priorities. Accept implementation tradeoffs. Confirm business alignment. Approve updated governance. --- # Completion Criteria An Evolution cycle is complete when: The requested change has been implemented. Governance documents have been updated. Architecture remains protected. Business objectives remain aligned. Technical debt has not unnecessarily increased. The human has approved the completed change. --- # Continuous Improvement Every completed Evolution cycle should improve one or more of the following: Product quality Maintainability Security Performance Scalability User experience Business value Engineering knowledge No change should leave the product in a worse state than before the work began.