4. The Governance Shield
Stop-Work Triggers
When to pull the Andon cord.
When its core assumptions are violated, continuing work is no longer responsible. Stop-Work Triggers exist to make this explicit.
The System Signal
A Stop-Work Trigger is not an escalation or a failure of the team. It is a system signal that governance conditions are no longer satisfied.
Work MUST pause when:
- ☐Scope changes are introduced without an explicit Change Forum trade-off.
- ☐Ownership for a decision cannot be clearly named.
- ☐Boundaries or dependencies change without acknowledgement.
- ☐Delivery pressure attempts to override agreed DoR or DoD criteria.
- ☐Conflicting instructions are given without resolution.
Why This Matters for Neurodivergent Performance
Neurodivergent contributors often detect misalignment earlier because ambiguity creates immediate cognitive load. When scope, ownership, or intent shifts silently, the cost to their flow is exponential.
- Reduces surprise renegotiation.
- Protects hyperfocus windows.
- Converts implicit pressure into explicit decisions.
- Prevents "care-based overcompensation" from becoming burnout.
The Ultimate Protection
Stopping work is not failure. Continuing work under broken assumptions is. The Shield ensures that those who anchor work in reality are not punished for doing so.