A structural point within the execution system where authority, interpretation, and action converge.
Full Definition
A Decision Node is a structural point in the execution system where information is interpreted and authority is exercised.
It is not a person.
It is a functional position within the system where decisions are translated into operational movement.
Decision nodes exist across all organizational layers.
They receive inputs, interpret constraints, and activate execution within defined boundaries.
The stability of a system depends not on how many decisions are made, but on how decision nodes are structured.
When nodes are overloaded, misaligned, or ambiguously defined, execution variance increases.
Under pressure, poorly engineered decision nodes amplify escalation and distort intent.
Decision nodes are where system architecture becomes behavior.
Structural Role in NAP
Within NAP, Decision Nodes function as execution translators.
They connect Strategic Decision Frames to operational reality.
Decision Integrity is preserved or degraded at the node level.
Activation Lines are triggered at nodes.
Authority Diffusion often begins when decision nodes are unclear or overlapping.
Stable systems define:
• Node ownership
• Node authority scope
• Node escalation thresholds
Engineering decision nodes means designing how interpretation happens under pressure.
