Adoptapprove

Adoptapprove is a governance concept and, in some contexts, a software platform designed to manage the lifecycle of proposals through two sequential phases: adoption and approval. The adoption phase concentrates on gathering input, validating needs, assessing impact, and, when appropriate, piloting the proposal on a limited basis. The approval phase provides formal authorization by designated authorities, enabling broader implementation or policy adoption. Together, adoptapprove aims to balance inclusive deliberation with accountable decision-making.

In practice, a proposal is submitted with documentation outlining objectives, expected outcomes, risks, costs, and success criteria. Stakeholders are invited to review, comment, and propose revisions during the adopt phase. A pilot or staged rollout may follow. If the adoption criteria are met, the proposal proceeds to the approve phase, where decision-makers examine the evidence and decide on formal approval, funding, or a go/no-go decision. Some implementations include automated workflows, audit trails, version control, and notification systems.

Typical roles include adopters (those who propose and test ideas), approvers (designated decision-makers or policy owners), and administrators (system oversight and governance). Criteria commonly considered include alignment with strategic goals, risk tolerance, cost-benefit analysis, transparency, and accountability, as well as measurable outcomes.

Benefits of the adoptapprove approach include increased transparency, traceability, and stakeholder engagement, while criticisms focus on potential delays, administrative overhead, and the risk of stifling innovation if criteria are too rigid.

Origins and scope: the term appears in organizational governance discussions and in descriptions of hypothetical or vendor-specific tools; it is not tied to a single standard. See also: change management, governance, approval workflow, policy adoption.