TL;DR
Automation is only as reliable as its recovery path; classify exceptions and make accountable human response part of the workflow.
What the paper develops
The happy path is the easiest part of a workflow to automate and the least informative test of whether the operation is ready. This paper focuses on what happens when inputs are missing, classifications are ambiguous, dependencies change, or a case falls outside the rules. It treats exception design as part of the automated workflow itself, with detection, routing, ownership, evidence, recovery, and recurring learning.
The operating move
Design the exception taxonomy and recovery path before declaring the happy path automated. Every exception class needs detection, routing, a response owner, and a way back to a known state.
HANDOFFSLEARNINGRECOVERY
Inside the white paper
- An exception taxonomy tied to detection and routing
- Boundaries, response ownership, recovery decisions, and evidence records
- Testing and learning practices that improve the workflow after failure