Validation Decision

Go up to Terms and Definitions

Discussion

A Validation Decision is a determination by an authorized Actor whether an evaluated subject satisfies defined Validation Criteria for a stated purpose.

A Validation Decision can evaluate:

A NodeA Node SetA distributed systemA Test EnvironmentA Deployment TargetAn ArtifactA BaselineA configurationAn interfaceA processA capabilityA requirementAnother subject of ValidationA Validation Decision can use:

Applicable Validation CriteriaApplicable Acceptance CriteriaApplicable Test DefinitionsApplicable Test RunsApplicable Test ResultsApplicable VerdictsApplicable EvidenceApplicable BaselinesApplicable PoliciesApplicable Governance PoliciesApplicable exceptions and waiversApplicable expert judgmentA Validation Decision can identify:

Its identityIts nameIts descriptionIts evaluated subjectIts validation purposeIts decision valueIts decision statusIts decision timeIts effective timeIts expiration timeIts authorized decision-makerIts applicable RoleIts Validation CriteriaIts Acceptance CriteriaIts supporting Test RunsIts supporting Test ResultsIts supporting VerdictsIts supporting EvidenceIts applicable BaselineIts applicable limitationsIts applicable conditionsIts applicable exceptionsIts applicable Governance PoliciesIts superseded Validation DecisionIts ProvenanceIts TraceabilityA Validation Decision can determine that the evaluated subject:

Satisfies the applicable Validation CriteriaDoes not satisfy the applicable Validation CriteriaConditionally satisfies the applicable Validation CriteriaCannot be evaluated conclusively from the available informationRequires additional testing or Evidence

Definition

determination by an authorized Actor whether an evaluated subject satisfies defined Validation Criteria for a stated purpose

Source

Adapted from:

DIDO Reference Implementation Conceptual ModelDIDO-TE draft Requirements RegisterOMG TestIF supports the interchange of Test Results, Verdicts, and traceability information needed for external arbitration. OMG TestIF leaves the arbitration rules and resulting higher-level determinations outside its scope.

This definition introduces Validation Decision as the governed determination made by applying defined Validation Criteria to the applicable Test Results, Verdicts, Evidence, and related information.

Note

A Validation Decision differs from Validation:

Validation is the evaluation activityA Validation Decision records the resulting determinationA Validation Decision differs from a Test Result:

A Test Result records an outcome associated with a Sequenced Test Object or Sequence StepA Validation Decision determines whether the evaluated subject satisfies the applicable Validation CriteriaA Validation Decision differs from a Verdict:

A Verdict classifies an individual or aggregated Test ResultA Validation Decision applies the governing Validation Criteria to the relevant Test Results, Verdicts, Evidence, and contextual informationA PASS Verdict does not, by itself, establish a positive Validation Decision.

A Validation Decision differs from an acceptance decision:

A Validation Decision determines whether the evaluated subject satisfies defined Validation Criteria for a stated purposeAn acceptance decision determines whether an authorized party accepts the evaluated subjectAn authorized party can accept a subject subject to limitations or waivers even when the Validation Decision identifies unresolved deficiencies. Conversely, a positive Validation Decision does not compel an authorized party to accept the subject.

A Validation Decision differs from an authorization decision:

A Validation Decision determines whether the evaluated subject satisfies defined Validation CriteriaAn authorization decision grants or denies permission to use, deploy, operate, release, or rely on the evaluated subjectA positive Validation Decision can support an authorization decision but does not replace it.

A Validation Decision must identify the applicable validation purpose. A subject can satisfy Validation Criteria for one purpose and fail to satisfy criteria for another purpose.

A Validation Decision does not establish universal correctness, suitability, safety, security, interoperability, or compliance. Its scope remains limited to:

The identified evaluated subjectThe stated validation purposeThe applicable Validation CriteriaThe applicable BaselineThe evaluated conditionsThe available EvidenceThe effective periodAny recorded limitations or exceptionsAn authorized Actor must make or approve the Validation Decision under the applicable Governance Policy.

An automated mechanism can calculate a proposed Validation Decision when the applicable Validation Criteria are machine-processable. The Governance Policy determines whether the automated determination constitutes the authoritative Validation Decision or requires approval by an authorized Actor.

A Validation Decision can change when:

The evaluated subject changesThe applicable Baseline changesThe Validation Criteria changeThe applicable Test Results changeNew Evidence becomes availableAn exception or waiver changesThe effective period expiresAn authorized review overturns the previous determinationA revised Validation Decision should preserve:

The previous Validation DecisionThe reason for the revisionThe responsible ActorThe applicable Validation CriteriaThe supporting Test ResultsThe supporting VerdictsThe supporting EvidenceThe applicable ProvenanceThe applicable Traceability

Example

An authorized Evaluator reviews whether a selected Node Set satisfies the Validation Criteria for use in a defined distributed test scenario.

The Evaluator considers:

The approved Test Definition VersionsThe applicable Test EnvironmentThe applicable Test RunsThe resulting Test ResultsThe assigned VerdictsThe supporting EvidenceThe approved BaselineThe applicable Governance PoliciesAny recorded exceptionsAll required Test Results have PASS Verdicts except one Test Result with an INCONCLUSIVE Verdict caused by missing timing Evidence.

The applicable Governance Policy prohibits a positive Validation Decision when required timing Evidence is missing.

The Evaluator records a Validation Decision stating that the Node Set cannot yet be determined to satisfy the Validation Criteria. The Validation Decision identifies:

The evaluated Node SetThe stated validation purposeThe applicable Validation CriteriaThe inconclusive Test ResultThe missing EvidenceThe additional Test Execution requiredThe authorized EvaluatorThe decision timeThe applicable ProvenanceThe applicable Traceability

© 2026 Dido Solutions, Inc. and Jackrabbit Consulting, Inc.