Decision Guardrail Canvas
Separate what AI may recommend, draft, route, or execute from what must remain human-owned.
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The exact sections inside the download.
Step 1 — Define the system role
Define the system role: Every AI-native workflow needs a role boundary. The system should know whether it is drafting, classifying, recommending, routing, or executing. Role definition Primary operating role Example: draft response, summarize account risk, classify inbound requests. Business outcome supported Name the operational result this system improves. Accountable owner Name the person or role responsible for decision quality. Allowed operating modes The system may summarize approved context The system may classify or prioritize records The system may draft recommendations for review The system may route work to an owner or queue The system may execute only pre-approved low-risk actions
Step 2 — Separate recommendation from execution
Separate recommendation from execution AI governance becomes practical when teams can distinguish decision support from autonomous action. This page defines that boundary. Decision-rights map Recommend What may the AI propose without committing the business? Draft What may the AI prepare, but not send, approve, price, or finalize? Route Which tasks may the AI assign or escalate based on deterministic rules? Execute Which actions, if any, may run automatically after validation? Never execute Which actions must remain human-owned regardless of confidence? Deteminism beats inference. If an operation can be handled by a validated tool, workflow rule, permission check, or data contract, do not leave it to model judgment.
Step 3 — Set escalation rules
Set escalation rules Escalation rules keep ambiguity from becoming invisible automation. Use them to protect customers, staff, and the business when the system reaches uncertainty. Escalation triggers The request includes legal, financial, HR, safety, or regulated advice The output changes a customer commitment, price, timeline, or obligation The model confidence, source coverage, or evidence quality is weak The customer sentiment is angry, distressed, urgent, or adversarial The workflow involves sensitive data or cross-functional approval Review model Reviewer Who reviews the output before it can move forward? Approval proof What evidence shows the review happened? Override path What happens when the reviewer rejects or edits the AI output? Cadence How often are exceptions reviewed for pattern detection? Move from policy language to decision architecture. IntelliSync helps teams define decision rights, escalation paths, and tool-first orchestration so AI-supported work remains accountable as it scales. Open Architecture Assessment
Decision-rights map (concise)
Concise outline of decision rights: Recommend, Draft, Route, Execute, Never execute; include determinism note.
Escalation and review (concise)
List escalation triggers and review cadence.
Role boundaries (concise)
Summarize the system role, business outcome, and allowed operating modes.
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Frame the decision
Name the real operating need before designing a solution.
Example: draft response, summarize account risk, classify inbound requests.
Name the operational result this system improves.
Name the person or role responsible for decision quality.
The system may summarize approved context; The system may classify or prioritize records; The system may draft recommendations for review; The system may route work to an owner or queue; The system may execute only pre-approved low-risk actions.
How to use it
Start with one real decision.
Complete the canvas with the workflow owner, then use the blank areas to expose missing context and controls.
Before you begin