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Execution Divergence

The measured deviation of an agentic workflow from its predicted path — Arco's primary detection mechanism for Context Leakage, with an automatic roll-back triggered at 15% deviation from expected parameters.

Extended Definition​

Execution Divergence is not an error state. It is a continuous measurement — the running comparison between an agentic workflow's actual execution path and the predicted path established at the point of task initiation. Every agentic workflow has a confidence interval: the range of outputs and intermediate states that are consistent with the task's intent. When the workflow drifts outside that interval by more than 15%, the deviation has become large enough that continuing is more dangerous than halting.

  • Context Leakage — Execution Divergence is the measurable signal of Context Leakage in progress: accumulated drift in task intent becomes detectable when the workflow's actual path diverges from its predicted path.
  • Deterministic Failure — When Execution Divergence exceeds 15%, the system transitions to a Deterministic Failure state: halting, logging the full execution context, and escalating to the Steward.
  • MTTI (Mean Time to Intervention) — Execution Divergence detection speed is a direct input to MTTI: a system that catches deviation early halts safely and recovers faster than one that allows drift to compound.
  • Architectural Certainty — Continuous Execution Divergence monitoring is a design requirement for Architectural Certainty: a system without it cannot detect drift before it produces incorrect outputs at scale.

Articles​

References​

  • Lexicon — canonical definition
  • Wiki — extended entry

Metadata​

First used: 2026-03-20
Pillar: How We Think

Part of the Arco Lexicon Ecosystem — maintained by Arco Venture Studio