Definition
The organization running a system can survive having made a correction to it. Commitments, contracts, reputations, and budgets all remain serviceable after withdrawal. It is the third of three levels of reversibility, above technical and operational reversibility.
It matters because a correction that would cause unacceptable damage will not be exercised, and an unexercisable correction is not a control. Institutional reversibility is the level that dependency state erodes and that preserved capacity is maintained to defend.
Three kinds of reversibility — the explainer, with a worked example
Tests that show it is in place
- The institutional consequences of withdrawal are written down, owned, and priced.
- At least one senior owner can state what withdrawal would cost without preparing a paper.
- Contracts and public commitments are reviewed for terms that make withdrawal unaffordable.
Evidence to keep
- Artifact: A withdrawal impact assessment covering contracts, commitments, and budget.
- Behavior: A withdrawal decision taken and survived, or a rehearsal that priced it credibly.
- Metric: Estimated institutional cost of withdrawal, trended against exposure score.
References
- Dependence without standing · Theory