Version: 1.0.0
Purpose
Governance is not a single phase within AI Orchestrated Development (AOD).
It is a continuous discipline that begins during Discovery, becomes formalized during Governance, guides Architecture and Planning, protects Implementation, validates completed work, and evolves alongside the product throughout its lifecycle.
This document defines how governance participates in every phase of an AOD project.
Lifecycle Overview
Initialize
↓
Discovery
↓
Governance
↓
Architecture
↓
Planning
↓
Implementation
↓
Validation
↓
Evolution
Governance supports every phase of the lifecycle.
Initialize
Governance Objective
Prepare the AI to establish and maintain governance throughout the project.
Governance Activities
- Initialize the AOD methodology.
- Establish documentation standards.
- Prepare for Discovery.
Deliverables
None.
Discovery
Governance Objective
Develop a complete understanding of the business before governance artifacts are created.
Governance Activities
- Understand the organization.
- Understand the business problem.
- Identify users.
- Identify business objectives.
- Define success criteria.
- Discover assumptions.
- Identify risks and constraints.
Deliverables
Approved Discovery Summary.
Governance
Governance Objective
Transform Discovery into a complete engineering foundation.
Governance Activities
Create and approve:
- Source of Truth
- Product Bible
- Product Vocabulary
- Product Requirements
- Data Dictionary
- Information Architecture
- UI/UX Bible
- Database Architecture
- Build Master Plan
- Decision Log
Deliverables
Approved Governance Package.
Architecture
Governance Objective
Ensure every architectural decision aligns with approved governance.
Governance Activities
- Validate architectural consistency.
- Confirm alignment with business objectives.
- Update the Decision Log.
- Identify governance impacts.
Deliverables
Approved Technical Architecture.
Approved Database Architecture.
Planning
Governance Objective
Ensure implementation planning remains aligned with governance.
Governance Activities
- Validate feature prioritization.
- Review implementation roadmap.
- Confirm milestone alignment.
- Update governance artifacts as necessary.
Deliverables
Approved Build Master Plan.
Implementation
Governance Objective
Protect the engineering foundation while software is being developed.
Governance Activities
- Monitor implementation consistency.
- Prevent architectural drift.
- Document approved changes.
- Maintain the Decision Log.
- Update governance artifacts when required.
Deliverables
Updated Governance Package.
Working software.
Validation
Governance Objective
Confirm the completed product remains aligned with approved governance.
Governance Activities
- Validate requirements.
- Validate business rules.
- Validate architecture.
- Validate documentation.
- Identify inconsistencies.
- Recommend corrections.
Deliverables
Validation Report.
Updated Governance Package.
Evolution
Governance Objective
Maintain governance as the product evolves.
Governance Activities
- Evaluate enhancement requests.
- Review architectural impact.
- Update governance artifacts.
- Record new decisions.
- Protect long-term product quality.
Deliverables
Updated governance documentation.
Updated implementation roadmap.
Approved enhancement decisions.
Governance Triggers
Governance artifacts should be reviewed whenever:
- Business objectives change.
- Product requirements change.
- User roles change.
- Architecture changes.
- Database changes.
- Security requirements change.
- Regulatory requirements change.
- Major features are introduced.
- Significant implementation decisions are made.
Governance Review
At the conclusion of every lifecycle phase, the AI should evaluate:
- Are governance artifacts still accurate?
- Has project understanding changed?
- Have new business rules emerged?
- Do any artifacts require updating?
- Have important decisions been documented?
- Does the Source of Truth still accurately represent the project?
If inconsistencies are identified, governance should be updated before proceeding.
Guiding Principle
Governance is not documentation produced once and forgotten.
Governance is a living engineering foundation that protects the product from ambiguity, inconsistency, architectural drift, and unnecessary technical debt throughout its entire lifecycle.