The structured transfer of decision ownership, responsibility, or execution authority between decision nodes.
Full Definition
A Handoff is the structural transition point where decision ownership, context, and execution responsibility move from one node to another.
It is not a communication event.
It is a transfer of operational control.
Every time responsibility crosses layers, teams, or functions, a handoff occurs.
Well-engineered handoffs preserve:
• Intent
• Constraints
• Authority boundaries
• Execution context
Poorly structured handoffs introduce distortion.
Information compresses.
Assumptions expand.
Accountability diffuses.
Under pressure, handoffs become acceleration points for decision drift.
Systems rarely collapse at approval.
They degrade during transfer.
Handoffs are where translation risk accumulates.
Structural Role in NAP
Within NAP, Handoffs function as transmission mechanisms inside the Execution System.
They connect Decision Nodes horizontally and vertically.
They are directly influenced by:
• Decision Boundaries
• Activation Lines
• Decision Integrity
• Authority Clarity
When handoffs are stable, execution remains coherent across layers.
When handoffs are ambiguous, escalation becomes reactive, and behavioral drift increases.
Engineering handoffs means defining:
• What is being transferred
• What remains with the sender
• What authority shifts
• What constraints persist
Handoffs are not administrative moments.
They are structural transfer points.
