Design Pattern
Labor as code
Make work inspectable, assignable, testable, versioned, and governable before attempting broad automation. The pattern turns observed work into Work Units and Worker Contracts that can be tested in shadow mode and versioned, and it stops when specification adds more burden than clarity.
Inputs
Observed work, its outcome, current artifacts, actors, rules, and failure record.
Method
Decompose the work, write Work Units and Worker Contracts, map the graph, assign authority, add tests, run in shadow mode, and version every material change.
Output
A governed body of work specifications with evidence and release history.
Boundary
Human work is not software. Tacit judgment, trust, physical action, and local context may resist formal representation.
Stop
Stop adding specification when it creates more burden than clarity or fails to improve control.