Thus far, we have examined the individual elements that constitute Governance, including Fact, Evaluation, Policy, and Process associated with Content, as well as Identity and Authority. When these elements are combined at a particular point in time, they form a Governance State.

Governance State does not represent the Content itself. Rather, it represents the Governance state surrounding the Content at a particular point in time, based on the Governance Attributes, Authority, Context, and other relevant elements associated with that Content.

Even for the same Document or Image, the Governance State may differ depending on the results of Evaluation, the applicable Policy, the current Process Stage, the Actor’s Authority, and other relevant factors. Content classified as Internal Use Only at one point may move into a state in which publication becomes possible following Review and Approval. Conversely, a new Evaluation or a change in Policy may introduce restrictions on uses that were previously possible.

Governance State is therefore not an attribute that is assigned to Content once and remains permanently fixed.

Governance State is dynamic, not fixed.

Even when the Content itself does not change, its Governance State may change as the surrounding Governance conditions change. Changes in Evaluation, Policy, Process Stage, Authority, Context, and other elements can therefore cause the same Content to have different Governance States at different points in time.

This concept makes it possible to move beyond static classifications such as “Is this Content safe?” or “Can this Content be used?” and instead represent the Governance conditions currently surrounding the Content as a state.

Governance State is therefore not merely a collection of individual Tags and Authorities. It is the current state of Governance formed by relating these elements within the present Context and representing them in a form that can be referenced by subsequent Decision and Execution processes.