# 05 Approval Workflow

Approval is explicit. A file existing in the repo is not approval.

## Statuses

| Status | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| Pass | Stage meets all gates |
| Needs Work | Direction is viable but incomplete |
| Rejected | Direction fails and must return to an earlier stage |
| Approved | Asset may be packaged or released |

## Approval Requirements

- Asset registry entry is current.
- Lifecycle stage is correct.
- QA report passes.
- Required owner is listed.
- Version is updated.
- Known risks are documented.