Governance template 03 · Academy resource

Human Decision Gate Brief

A concise briefing format for presenting an AI-supported recommendation to the named human who must decide what happens next.

Use this when

An AI Worker has completed analysis or prepared an action, but the organisation needs a human decision before a consequential step can proceed.

The Human Decision Gate is not a rubber stamp. It is where a named human reviews a bounded proposal, its evidence, its permission ceiling and the consequences of authorising (terminal gate: empowered to execute) the next step. This is different from approving (stage gate: review complete). Authorisation is where the boundary owner takes real-world accountability.

Keep proposal and decision separate

The AI Worker may prepare a recommendation. It does not decide. The human response must be attributable, reasoned and recorded.

Record the rationale

A decision without a reason cannot be replayed, challenged or improved. Write the rationale while the evidence is visible.

Working prompts

Use the questions before the form.

Decision title
What requires a human decision?
AI-supported proposal
What has been proposed, and by whom?
Evidence relied on
What evidence, sources or records are relevant?
Permission ceiling
What is the current permission limit and why does this proposal reach it?
Named human authority owner
Who is accountable for the decision?
Human rationale
What is the decision and the reason for it?
Recorded next step
What happens after the decision, and what will be reviewed?
The gate is working when the human has enough context to make a real decision—and enough responsibility to be accountable for it.