Abstract
This publication discloses methods and systems for governed response to scope novelty in scope-based governance systems. When a governance system encounters a scope position for which no governance configuration exists — a cold start governance scenario where novel scope positions are detected through policy gap detection via configuration coverage gap analysis — the system provides graduated enforcement rather than defaulting to either ungoverned pass-through or blanket refusal. In one embodiment, scope novelty is detected as a structural signal: a configuration coverage check reveals that required contextual dimensions at a scope position are not covered by governance rules, identifying the position as novel. The system applies graduated closure requirements appropriate to the scope position’s maturity level, enabling adaptive governance that progresses from minimal governance (authority attestation only) through advisory governance (evaluation without preventing completion) to mandatory governance (evaluation required for completion) as the scope position accumulates decisions and governance configuration. In one embodiment, governance level resolution operates independently at each scope position, enabling simultaneous multi-scope operation at different governed response levels. The reasoning structure template remains unchanged across governed response transitions — behavioural adaptation derives from scope-resolved governance configuration rather than from modification of the reasoning structure. Sealed decision records created during minimal-governance operation may remain valid for reuse after governance level transition, subject to compatibility conditions, preserving organisational decision history across scope maturity progression. The disclosed approach extends out-of-distribution detection methods from machine learning to the structural problem of identifying governance configuration gaps in enterprise policy systems. The disclosed approaches address the scope novelty governance problem inherent in organisations that evolve continuously, providing a governed response mechanism for organisational expansion governance without requiring pre-configuration of every possible scope position.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Winchester, Jayson, "Policy Gap Detection and Graduated Enforcement in Scope- Based Governance Systems", Technical Disclosure Commons, (February 19, 2026)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/9352