The default lifecycle is:
Submitted → Triage → Assessed → Approved for capture → Specification review → Approved for build → Building → Validation → Delivered
An idea can also be deferred, rejected, paused or returned for clarification. Every transition records who changed it, when, why and what evidence supported the decision.
#Approval gates
The most important gate is between the specification and Builder. Builder should not treat a raw recording or an unreviewed AI draft as the source of truth. The SME or designated approver must approve the structured specification first.
#Audit trail
The record should retain the prior state, new state, actor, timestamp and decision note for every transition.