apply-stage-gate

Purpose

Apply explicit GO / HOLD / RECYCLE / KILL gates to a candidate or work package, tying each outcome to evidence thresholds and a next action.

Input contract

required: [candidate_record, gate_criteria, evidence_register]
optional: [prior_gate_decision, remediation_options]
constraints: [each criterion has an observable status; gate outcome and next action are explicit]

Procedure

1. Normalize the candidate, gate criteria, evidence, and unresolved assumptions into a gate table.
2. Evaluate every criterion as met, unmet, or unknown, preserving the cited evidence and threshold direction.
3. Apply precedence: KILL for disqualifying hard failure, RECYCLE for repairable failure, HOLD for insufficient evidence, otherwise GO.
4. Emit the gate decision, failed criteria, evidence gaps, and the smallest justified next action.

Output contract

produces: [gate_table, gate_decision, failed_criteria, next_action]
delta_fields: [findings, evidence_updates, uncertainties, decisions, recommended_jumps]