DefinedTerm · Decision Design Framework
Decision Boundary
A Decision Boundary is an authority structure that specifies where delegated judgment ends and another legitimate authority must decide.
Formal definition
A Decision Boundary defines the scope and conditions of legitimate authority across humans and AI, including delegation, escalation, override, and stopping rules before a consequential decision is executed.
What it is not
It is not a model threshold, a generic human-in-the-loop checkpoint, or a technical guardrail without an accountable authority owner.
Concept boundary
A Decision Boundary is an authority structure, not merely an operational threshold, confidence score, or alert level.
Relationship to Decision Design
Decision Boundaries are the structural mechanism through which Decision Design makes authority allocation and handoffs explicit.
Return to the Decision Design pillar →Structural components
- 01
Delegated authority scope
- 02
Escalation and override conditions
- 03
Named receiving authority and required evidence
Practical example
An AI may approve standard refunds below a defined value, but suspected fraud, contractual exceptions, or cumulative exposure cross the boundary to named human authorities.