Scenarios and protected choices
A scenario is a named set of editable conditions: manual or optimization mode, scoring weights, protected and locked-out initiatives, capacity multipliers, and justified resource-period overrides. Keep the baseline intact and explain why each scenario differs. Scenarios are comparisons, not forecasts and not separate versions of the approved plan.
Use manual mode to evaluate a set chosen by people; the engine checks it but does not optimize it. Use optimization mode to search the eligible set under encoded rules. Protected initiatives must remain selected and locked-out initiatives unavailable. Mandatory or committed work remains binding unless an authorized model edit changes its status; the assistant cannot infer or remove commitments.
Create a small set of decision-relevant cases: approved capacity, constrained capacity, and a defensible alternative policy may be enough. Avoid dozens of cosmetic scenarios. If a scenario changes capacity, score weights, or eligibility, record its provenance and review its downstream consequences.