Purpose

This specification defines how Specifications are governed within the AAOE Body of Knowledge. Specifications transform validated engineering knowledge into reusable engineering guidance while preserving traceability to their supporting evidence.

Governance Principles

Specification governance shall ensure that Specifications are:

• evidence-based
• traceable
• internally consistent
• versioned
• reviewable
• maintainable
• open to future refinement

Specifications shall evolve without losing historical context.

Role of Specifications

Specifications define normative engineering guidance.

Specifications:

• prescribe engineering practices
• standardize terminology
• consolidate validated knowledge
• support consistent engineering decisions

Specifications do not replace evidence. Specifications do not invalidate Discoveries.

Specification Lifecycle

Specifications progress through the following governance states:

Proposal
        ↓
Draft
        ↓
Architecture Review
        ↓
Accepted
        ↓
Revision
        ↓
Superseded
        ↓
Archived

Not every proposal becomes an Accepted Specification.

Acceptance Criteria

A Specification should demonstrate:

• traceability to supporting Discoveries
• supporting evidence
• engineering significance
• internal consistency
• compatibility with existing Specifications
• sufficient documentation

Acceptance requires governance review.

Traceability

Every Specification should reference, where applicable:

• supporting Discoveries
• supporting Case Studies
• supporting Evidence
• related ADRs
• dependent Specifications

Traceability shall be maintained throughout the Specification lifecycle.

Revision

Accepted Specifications may evolve through:

• clarification
• refinement
• extension
• correction

Revisions shall preserve historical traceability.

Supersession

A Specification may be superseded when:

• broader engineering knowledge becomes available
• improved guidance is developed
• terminology evolves
• governance determines replacement is beneficial

Superseded Specifications remain part of the historical record.

Relationship to Discoveries

Discoveries describe engineering observations. Specifications prescribe engineering guidance. Specifications should remain traceable to the Discoveries that informed them.

Multiple Discoveries may contribute to a single Specification. A single Discovery may influence multiple Specifications.

Relationship to the Operating Model

The Operating Model defines how engineering work is executed. Specifications define the engineering guidance that informs that execution.

The Operating Model applies Specifications. Governance maintains Specifications.

Future Evolution

Future Governance Specifications define:

• Versioning and Evolution
• Knowledge Domains