Operation
Who monitors failures, handles retries, rotates credentials and maintains integrations?
Free template
Automation Authority Matrix.
Define the work, predictability, mechanism, decision authority and controls before software starts acting on behalf of the company.
No form, account or email address is required. Complete one row for each meaningful workflow decision.
| Work type | Predictability | Preferred mechanism | Decision authority | Minimum controls | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deterministic transfer | Inputs and outcome are fully specified. | Rules-based automation | System may execute approved rules. | Validation, idempotency, failure alert, audit log, rollback path. | Create an implementation record after a qualifying contract reaches an approved status. |
| Bounded classification | Interpretation varies, but approved categories and confidence thresholds exist. | Bounded AI assistance | AI may recommend or classify within explicit limits. | Allowed inputs, confidence threshold, sampled review, protected data rules, human fallback. | Suggest a support-ticket category for an agent to confirm. |
| Consequential decision | Context is ambiguous or the impact is material. | Human decision with system support | A named person approves the action. | Decision record, evidence, authority limit, escalation path, review date. | Approve a customer credit, contract exception or forecast override. |
| Novel exception | The case falls outside tested normal and exception paths. | Pause and escalate | Authorized owner decides and updates the system if repeatable. | Quarantine, alert, preserved context, response target, learning loop. | A customer request conflicts with delivery capacity and a nonstandard promise. |
Blank working matrix
Map each workflow decision before selecting the tool.
| Workflow step or decision | Inputs and evidence | Mechanism | Authority and limit | Controls and exception path | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | |||||
| 2. | |||||
| 3. | |||||
| 4. | |||||
| 5. |
Lifecycle cost check
Do not evaluate automation on build cost alone.
Change
What happens when fields, vendors, policies, volumes or workflow owners change?
Control
Can the company explain what acted, with which input, under whose authority?
Exit
Can the workflow be paused, rolled back or moved without losing critical records?
Next step
Define the workflow before automating it.
Read why automation cannot rescue an undefined workflow, review the technology decision approach, or see the workflow automation service.