Feedback Architecture on the Path to Self-Optimizing Systems

Self-optimizing systems need feedback loops that prioritize trust, traceability, and intervention readiness over raw adaptation speed.

Feedback architecture preconditions

  • Signal quality

    Metrics are stable, relevant, and resistant to gaming.

  • Auditability

    Change decisions and outcomes are replayable.

  • Control authority

    Humans can override quickly without blind spots.

Optimization loops are safe only when signal quality, auditability, and control authority mature together.

Before continuous optimization

Teams often add optimization loops before governance loops are mature. That order creates fragile autonomy and difficult incident response.

A better path is to lock down observability and intervention controls first, then increase loop frequency.

Practical readiness checks

Track false-positive interventions, detection lag, and rollback success rate. These indicators expose whether the system can tolerate more autonomy.

If rollback outcomes are inconsistent, pause optimization expansion and harden controls before proceeding.