Retirement Planning Module (RPM)

OOF® Origin Open Foundation®

Independent Methodological Authority

Architecture: SLGA™ — Software Lifecycle Governance Architecture
Parent Standard: Software Retirement Standard (SRTS)
Category: Governance & Enforcement
Subcategory: Software Retirement Governance
Type: Core Module
Governed Space: Software Retirement Planning Governance
Module ID: SLGA-SRTS-RPM-01
Origin ID: OOF-SLGA-SRTS-RPM
Version: 1.0
Status: Canonical Open
Effective Date: 15.10.2026
Compatibility: Methodology OS — Modular Compatibility
GIE-Compatible: Yes
AI-Readable: Yes
Authority: OOF® — OriginOpen® Foundation
Protection: Protected Methodological Work
Canonical Language: UCL — Universal Canonical Language (English)

Canonical Definition

Retirement Planning Module (RPM) is the Core Module within Software
Retirement Standard (SRTS) that governs how proposed, required, or
emerging software retirement activities are identified, justified,
scoped, evaluated, structured, and prepared for controlled lifecycle
transition.

RPM establishes software retirement planning as an evidence-supported

governance process connecting an identifiable software object, its
current lifecycle and operational conditions, the reasons for
retirement, its intended retirement state, affected dependencies,
applicable authority, required transition activities, and conditions
for retirement readiness.

The module distinguishes a retirement proposal from a retirement decision,

retirement justification from retirement feasibility, retirement
planning from retirement execution, and planned withdrawal from
verified operational retirement.

It requires retirement plans to account for the actual software

environment, including active and historical versions, deployment
locations, operational functions, users, dependent systems, support
conditions, data relationships, security implications, migration
requirements, and residual obligations.

RPM recognizes that software retirement may be immediate, phased,
partial, conditional, replacement-dependent, or constrained by
continuing operational responsibilities.

It governs the establishment of retirement pathways that are
proportionate to the software's operational significance and the
consequences of its withdrawal.

RPM applies to enterprise applications, software services, libraries,

infrastructure components, embedded software, firmware, AI systems,
autonomous agents, and software operating within industrial or
critical infrastructure environments.

Its principal governance output is the Software Retirement Plan
Profile.

Operational Role

RPM establishes the initial planning and readiness foundation for governed

software retirement.

It governs:

Retirement initiation
Retirement case identity
Retirement origin
Software object identification
Retirement purpose
Retirement justification
Current-state assessment
Intended retirement state
Retirement scope
Retirement boundaries
Operational significance
Retirement impact
Retirement feasibility
Retirement alternatives
Retirement dependencies
Affected users and systems
Support and maintenance conditions
Migration requirements
Data continuity requirements
Operational continuity
Security considerations
Retirement sequencing
Authority requirements
Retirement resources
Retirement readiness
Retirement uncertainty
Retirement plan approval
Planning evidence
Planning revisions
Handoff to subsequent retirement governance

RPM does not execute software withdrawal or independently verify
retirement completion.

Operational Question

How can the retirement of an identifiable software object be planned
through a justified, feasible, evidence-supported, and appropriately
authorized transition pathway when its dependencies, operational
functions, support conditions, data relationships, affected users, and
residual obligations may extend beyond its intended withdrawal?

Position in Architecture Governance Flow

SLGA™ Governance Flow

Software Requirements → Software Creation → Software Dependencies →

Software Configuration → Software Quality → Software Security →
Software Release → Software Deployment → Software Change Management →
Software Retirement

Cross-cutting: Software Lifecycle Control

SRTS Core Module Flow

Retirement Planning Module (RPM) → End-of-Support Management Module

(ESMM) → Software Migration Module (SMM) → Residual Dependency
Management Module (RDMM) → Retirement Closure Control Module (RCCLM)

RPM is the first Core Module within SRTS.

It establishes the retirement plan and initial governance conditions

required for subsequent support transition, migration, residual
dependency management, and retirement closure.

Its planning conclusions must remain subject to reassessment when the
actual software or operational environment materially changes.

Governed Space

Software Retirement Planning Governance

This governed space concerns the structured preparation of software

retirement before material withdrawal or transition activities are
performed.

It begins when a software object becomes subject to a retirement
proposal, requirement, or identified need for discontinuation.

It includes the identification of the retiring software, its existing role,

applicable obligations, retirement objectives, dependencies,
feasibility, transition requirements, and readiness conditions.

It concludes its initial planning phase when an evidence-supported
retirement pathway has been established and appropriately accepted or
authorized for subsequent governance.

The governed space remains applicable whenever material changes require the

retirement plan to be revised.

Governed Object

The primary Governed Object is:

A Software Retirement Planning Case representing the evidence-supported

relationship between an identifiable software object, its current
lifecycle and operational state, retirement purpose, intended
retirement condition, affected dependencies, applicable constraints,
proposed transition activities, authority requirements, and retirement
readiness criteria.

The governed object must preserve, where applicable:

Retirement Planning Case ID

Software Object ID

Software Product or Component Reference

Current Software State

Retirement Origin

Retirement Purpose

Retirement Justification

Intended Retirement State

Retirement Scope

Affected Environments

Affected Dependencies

Operational Requirements

Support Conditions

Migration Requirements

Data Continuity Requirements

Retirement Constraints

Authority References

Retirement Readiness Conditions

Plan Status

Plan Version

Scope

Retirement Case Formation

Retirement Origin Recognition

Software Identity Assessment

Retirement Purpose Definition

Retirement Justification

Current-State Identification

Intended-State Definition

Retirement Scope Formation

Retirement Boundary Definition

Operational Significance Assessment

Retirement Impact Identification

Retirement Feasibility Assessment

Retirement Alternative Evaluation

Dependency Identification

Migration Requirement Identification

Support Transition Planning

Data Continuity Planning

Operational Continuity Planning

Retirement Sequencing

Resource and Capability Readiness

Retirement Authority Alignment

Retirement Plan Validation

Retirement Readiness Assessment

Plan Revision and Reassessment

RPM does not replace specialized lifecycle standards responsible for
implementing the activities identified by the retirement plan.

Foundational Principle

Software retirement must be planned according to the actual
operational role, dependencies, obligations, and consequences of the
software being withdrawn—not merely according to the organization's
intention to stop using or supporting it.

The existence of a retirement objective does not establish retirement
feasibility.

The availability of replacement software does not establish migration
readiness.

The approval of a retirement plan does not establish authority for
every action required to execute it.

Retirement Intention ≠ Retirement Readiness.

Retirement Plan Approved ≠ Withdrawal Authorized.

Retirement Planning Case Identity

Every retirement planning case must have a stable identity.

Relevant elements include:

Planning Case ID

Retirement Case Reference

Software Object ID

Planning Origin

Responsible Planning Function

Creation Time

Applicable Software State

Planning Status

Evidence Reference

Plan Version

The planning identity must remain stable across revisions and
subsequent retirement activities.

Retirement Initiation

Retirement planning may be initiated by:

Support Termination Notice

Technology Obsolescence

Security Finding

Maintenance Infeasibility

Replacement Availability

Operational Redundancy

Infrastructure Transition

Architectural Consolidation

External Requirement

Cost Sustainability Concern

Dependency Discontinuation

Safety or Reliability Concern

Organizational Decision

Automated Recommendation

Initiation must remain distinguishable from approval to retire the
software.

Retirement Origin

RPM must preserve the originating condition that created the need or
proposal for retirement.

Relevant elements include:

Originating Actor or System

Originating Event

Affected Software

Observed Condition

Supporting Evidence

Initial Urgency

Known Constraints

Origin Time

The retirement origin must remain traceable throughout the planning
process.

Retirement Purpose

The retirement purpose must identify the intended governance outcome.

Potential purposes include:

Eliminate Unsupported Software

Reduce Security Exposure

Remove Redundant Functionality

Replace Obsolete Software

Consolidate Services

Improve Operational Sustainability

Terminate an Unnecessary Capability

Complete Technology Migration

Reduce Dependency Complexity

Fulfill an External Obligation

A retirement purpose must not be reduced to an implementation
instruction such as deleting an application or disabling a service.

Retirement Justification

RPM must establish why retirement is proposed or required.

Relevant considerations include:

Current Software Condition

Operational Necessity

Support Availability

Maintenance Feasibility

Security Exposure

Replacement Suitability

Dependency Consequences

Economic Sustainability

External Requirements

Risks of Continued Operation

The justification must be evidence-supported and distinguishable from
the decision to execute retirement.

Software Object Identification

RPM must identify the software object subject to retirement.

Potential objects include:

Application

Software Product

Software Service

Software Version

Library

Component

Runtime

Interface

Firmware

Automated Workflow

AI Model Service

Autonomous Agent Component

Embedded Software Capability

The identity must distinguish the retiring object from software that
remains active.

Software Identity Precision

Software retirement planning must establish sufficient identity
precision.

Relevant elements include:

Product Name

Software Object ID

Build

Artifact Reference

Configuration

Deployment Environment

Runtime Location

Ownership Reference

Dependency Relationships

A product name alone may be insufficient when multiple versions or
instances remain operational.

Current Lifecycle State

RPM must establish the software's current lifecycle condition.

Potential states include:

Active Development

Maintained

Supported

Deployed

Operational

Restricted

Unsupported but Operational

Migration Pending

Partially Withdrawn

Previously Declared Retired

The planning process must not assume that an administrative lifecycle
state accurately represents operational reality.

Current Operational State

RPM must identify how the software is actually used.

Relevant elements include:

Operational Function

Active Environments

Active Users

Dependent Systems

Data Processing

External Interfaces

Scheduled Execution

Automated Tasks

Security Permissions

Physical-System Interaction

Known Operational Restrictions

Actual operational use must be supported by appropriate evidence.

Intended Retirement State

RPM must define the intended resulting condition.

Potential outcomes include:

Software No Longer Distributed

Software No Longer Supported

Software No Longer Maintained

Software No Longer Deployed

Software No Longer Executing

Operational Function Replaced

Data Migrated

Interfaces Withdrawn

Dependencies Resolved

Historical Artifact Retained Without Operational Use

Retired With Explicit Residual Obligations

The intended retirement state must be sufficiently precise to support
later verification.

Current–Intended State Difference

RPM must identify the transition required between the current and
intended software states.

Relevant elements include:

Current Software Role

Target Software Role

Current Support Conditions

Target Support Conditions

Current Operational Dependencies

Target Dependency State

Current Data Relationships

Target Data State

Current Access Permissions

Target Authority State

This comparison establishes the initial retirement transition
requirements.

Retirement Scope

Retirement scope must identify what the proposed retirement includes.

Relevant elements include:

Software Products

Software Versions

Software Components

Services

Interfaces

Deployment Environments

User Groups

Data Relationships

Support Obligations

Maintenance Obligations

External Integrations

Scope must distinguish complete retirement from partial or
environment-specific retirement.

Retirement Boundary

RPM must establish the boundaries of the retirement case.

Relevant boundaries include:

Software Object Boundary

Version Boundary

Environment Boundary

Operational Boundary

Dependency Boundary

Data Boundary

Interface Boundary

Authority Boundary

Support Boundary

Historical Evidence Boundary

Excluded objects must remain visible where they are materially
affected by the retirement.

Partial Retirement Planning

Retirement may concern only part of a software environment.

Examples include:

Retirement of One Version

Withdrawal From One Region

Discontinuation of One Interface

Removal From One Customer Environment

Retirement of One Firmware Variant

Termination of One Service Capability

RPM must preserve the continuing governance status of software outside
the retirement scope.

Retirement Significance

RPM must assess the governance significance of the proposed
retirement.

Relevant factors include:

Operational Criticality

Affected Users

Dependency Complexity

Data Continuity

Security Exposure

Migration Complexity

Replacement Availability

Recovery Requirements

External Obligations

Physical-System Consequences

Retirement significance must reflect actual consequences rather than
software age alone.

Retirement Impact Assessment

RPM must identify the material consequences of retirement.

Potential dimensions include:

Functional Impact

Operational Impact

Dependency Impact

Security Impact

Data Impact

Interface Impact

User Impact

Economic Impact

Continuity Impact

Recovery Impact

External System Impact

Impact assessment must identify uncertainties requiring further
specialized analysis.

Direct Retirement Impact

Direct impact concerns the immediate consequences of withdrawing the

identified software object.

Examples include:

Loss of Software Functionality

Termination of Service Availability

Removal of User Access

Discontinuation of Maintenance

Withdrawal of an Interface

Termination of Automated Execution

Direct impact must be associated with the defined retirement scope.

Indirect Retirement Impact

Indirect impact concerns consequences propagated through dependencies
or operational relationships.

Examples include:

Dependent Application Failure

Loss of Historical Data Access

Broken External Integration

Disrupted Business Process

Unavailable Recovery Function

Physical Equipment Incompatibility

Unexpected Security Exposure

Indirect impact must not be ignored merely because the dependent
system is outside the immediate retirement scope.

Dependency Discovery

RPM must identify dependencies relevant to retirement planning.

Potential categories include:

Direct Dependencies

Transitive Dependencies

Runtime Dependencies

Infrastructure Dependencies

External Service Dependencies

Data Dependencies

Interface Dependencies

Operational Process Dependencies

Physical-System Dependencies

Dependency discovery must include relationships in both directions.

Upstream Dependencies

Upstream dependencies are resources required by the retiring software.

Relevant elements include:

Libraries

Databases

Runtime Platforms

External APIs

Infrastructure Services

Authentication Systems

Configuration Services

Monitoring Systems

RPM must identify which upstream dependencies can be retired and which
remain necessary for other software.

Downstream Dependencies

Downstream dependencies are systems, users, or processes relying on
the retiring software.

Relevant elements include:

Dependent Applications

External Customers

Integration Partners

Automated Workflows

Data Consumers

Business Processes

Industrial Equipment

Robotic Systems

Recovery Processes

Downstream dependencies must be addressed before withdrawal readiness
can be established.

Dependency Uncertainty

RPM must preserve uncertainty where dependency relationships are
incomplete or insufficiently verified.

Potential conditions include:

Unknown Consumers

Undocumented Interfaces

Unverified Scheduled Tasks

Unmapped Data Relationships

Legacy Integration Uncertainty

Unknown Recovery Dependencies

Unverified Physical-System Dependencies

Material uncertainty may prevent retirement readiness.

Support Condition Assessment

RPM must identify relevant support conditions.

Relevant elements include:

Support Provider

Supported Version

Support Scope

Support End Date or Condition

Security Update Availability

Technical Assistance Availability

Extended Support Options

Continuing Operational Use

External Support Obligations

These conditions establish requirements for ESMM.

Maintenance Condition Assessment

RPM must evaluate maintenance conditions.

Relevant elements include:

Maintenance Responsibility

Maintenance Capability

Required Expertise

Available Tools

Corrective Update Availability

Security Remediation Capability

Maintenance Cost

Known Limitations

End-of-Maintenance Conditions

Maintenance infeasibility may strengthen retirement justification
without establishing immediate withdrawal feasibility.

Unsupported Software Planning

Where software is unsupported but remains operational, RPM must
establish an appropriate transition pathway.

Relevant elements include:

Unsupported Software Identity

Operational Necessity

Known Security Exposure

Dependency Conditions

Operational Restrictions

Replacement Feasibility

Migration Requirements

Responsible Function

Retirement Review Conditions

Unsupported operation must remain an explicit governance condition.

Replacement Requirement Assessment

RPM must determine whether replacement software is required.

Relevant considerations include:

Continuing Functional Need

Replacement Availability

Functional Suitability

Interface Compatibility

Data Compatibility

Security Requirements

Operational Readiness

Migration Feasibility

Retirement does not always require replacement.

Where replacement is necessary, its suitability must be established
through applicable governance.

Replacement Alternative Assessment

Where multiple replacement pathways exist, RPM must preserve the basis
for selecting among them.

Relevant elements include:

Candidate Replacement

Functional Coverage

Security Conditions

Operational Sustainability

Migration Complexity

Dependency Consequences

Required Resources

Known Uncertainty

The preferred replacement must not be selected solely because it is
available or inexpensive.

Migration Requirement Identification

RPM must identify whether migration is necessary.

Potential migration objects include:

Software Functions

Users

Data

Configurations

Interfaces

Operational Workflows

Automation Tasks

Service Integrations

Historical Records

Dependent Applications

Detailed migration execution remains governed by SMM and applicable

specialized lifecycle standards.

Migration Feasibility

RPM must assess whether the intended migration can be achieved.

Relevant elements include:

Destination Availability

Functional Compatibility

Data Compatibility

Required Interfaces

Operational Resources

Verification Capability

Recovery Feasibility

Migration Constraints

External Dependencies

An intended migration pathway must not be considered feasible without
sufficient evidence.

Data Continuity Planning

RPM must identify data relationships affected by retirement.

Relevant elements include:

Data Ownership

Data Location

Data Accessibility

Data Integrity

Data Migration

Data Retention

Data Deletion Requirements

Historical Records

Backup Dependencies

Recovery Requirements

Software retirement must not silently eliminate continuing data
obligations.

Data Retention Boundary

RPM must distinguish software withdrawal from data retention and
disposal.

Potential conditions include:

Software Retired — Data Retained

Software Retired — Data Migrated

Software Retired — Data Archived

Software Retired — Data Disposal Pending

Software Retired — Data Disposal Verified

Detailed data retention and deletion obligations remain subject to

applicable specialized governance and legal requirements.

Interface Transition Planning

RPM must identify interfaces affected by retirement.

Relevant elements include:

Interface Identity

Dependent Consumers

Communication Protocols

Data Exchange Requirements

Replacement Interfaces

Compatibility Conditions

Transition Timing

Withdrawal Requirements

Unidentified consumers may create material retirement uncertainty.

Operational Continuity Planning

RPM must identify operational functions that must continue during or
after retirement.

Relevant elements include:

Critical Services

Required Availability

Replacement Readiness

Fallback Capability

Data Accessibility

External Integrations

Operational Dependencies

Recovery Conditions

Affected Users

Retirement planning must not create an unsupported assumption that
withdrawal can occur without operational consequences.

Recovery and Contingency Planning

Where retirement failure could cause material harm, RPM must identify
appropriate contingency requirements.

Potential elements include:

Recovery Objective

Fallback Software

Rollback Feasibility

Data Recovery

Operational Restoration

Responsible Function

Required Resources

Recovery Verification

Escalation Conditions

Recovery planning must reflect whether the retirement action is
reversible.

Retirement Reversibility

RPM must assess the reversibility of material retirement activities.

Relevant categories include:

Fully Reversible

Conditionally Reversible

Partially Reversible

Operationally Irreversible

Unknown

Relevant considerations include:

Data Deletion

Credential Revocation

Interface Withdrawal

Dependency Removal

Infrastructure Decommissioning

Migration State

External System Effects

Irreversible activities require appropriate governance conditions before

Security Planning

RPM must identify security implications of retirement.

Relevant elements include:

Unsupported Vulnerabilities

Residual Credentials

Service Accounts

API Keys

Certificates

Exposed Interfaces

Unmaintained Components

Archived Software

Data Exposure

Monitoring Requirements

Security requirements must be directed to the applicable specialized
governance mechanisms.

Access and Authority Planning

RPM must identify access and authority relationships affected by
retirement.

Relevant elements include:

Software Accounts

Service Credentials

Administrative Permissions

Agent Permissions

Automated Execution Rights

External System Access

Scheduled Actions

Delegated Authority

Successor Authority

Revocation Requirements

The retirement plan must distinguish software execution termination
from authority termination.

Autonomous Software Retirement Planning

Where autonomous software is being retired, RPM must assess:

Agent Identity

Assigned Objectives

Active Tasks

Delegated Authority

Tool Permissions

Memory References

External Actions

Pending Commitments

Human Override

Successor System

Retirement planning must preserve the continuity of unresolved tasks
and obligations.

Physical-System Considerations

Where software interacts with physical equipment, RPM must identify
material physical-system consequences.

Relevant elements include:

Device Identity

Installed Firmware

Operational Function

Physical Safety Conditions

Equipment Compatibility

Maintenance Availability

Replacement Feasibility

Recovery Requirements

Operational Restrictions

Software retirement must not assume that physical equipment can
continue operating safely without the retiring software.

Retirement Feasibility Assessment

RPM must evaluate the overall feasibility of the intended retirement
pathway.

Relevant dimensions include:

Technical Feasibility

Operational Feasibility

Dependency Feasibility

Migration Feasibility

Data Continuity Feasibility

Security Feasibility

Resource Feasibility

Authority Feasibility

Verification Feasibility

Recovery Feasibility

Feasibility conclusions must preserve their evidence and known
limitations.

Retirement Alternatives

RPM may evaluate alternative retirement pathways.

Potential alternatives include:

Immediate Retirement

Phased Retirement

Partial Retirement

Restricted Continued Operation

Replacement Before Withdrawal

Migration Before Withdrawal

Temporary Extended Support

Component Isolation

Controlled Decommissioning

The selected pathway must remain connected to the retirement purpose
and actual operational conditions.

Retirement Sequencing

RPM must establish the sequence of material retirement activities.

A possible sequence is:

Retirement Decision → Dependency Identification → Migration Preparation →

Replacement Verification → Operational Transition → Software
Withdrawal → Residual Dependency Assessment → Retirement Closure

The sequence must reflect the actual dependencies and constraints of
the software environment.

Retirement Preconditions

RPM must identify conditions that must be satisfied before material
retirement actions.

Potential preconditions include:

Applicable Retirement Decision

Dependency Assessment Completed

Required Migration Ready

Data Continuity Established

Affected Users Prepared

Operational Restrictions Defined

Required Resources Available

Withdrawal Authority Established

Recovery Conditions Prepared

Verification Capability Available

Unmet mandatory preconditions must remain explicit.

Retirement Resource Readiness

RPM must assess the resources required to execute the retirement plan.

Relevant elements include:

Responsible Personnel

Technical Expertise

Required Tools

Infrastructure Access

Migration Capacity

Verification Capability

Operational Support

Recovery Resources

External Dependencies

Resource availability must be established rather than assumed.

Retirement Capability Readiness

RPM must evaluate whether the responsible actors possess the
capability to perform required retirement activities.

Relevant elements include:

Technical Competence

System Knowledge

Required Authorizations

Operational Access

Dependency Understanding

Migration Expertise

Verification Capability

Recovery Capability

Assignment of responsibility does not automatically establish
operational capability.

Retirement Authority Alignment

RPM must identify the authority required for material retirement
decisions and actions.

Relevant elements include:

Retirement Decision Authority

Software Ownership

Operational Responsibility

Migration Authority

Deployment or Withdrawal Authority

Data Governance Authority

Access Revocation Authority

External Approval Requirements

Delegation Conditions

Task Authority ≠ Constituent Action Authority.

Approval to retire software does not automatically authorize every
dependent action.

Retirement Planning Responsibility

RPM must establish responsibility for maintaining and executing the
retirement plan.

Relevant elements include:

Planning Owner

Operational Owner

Technical Responsible Function

Migration Responsible Function

Security Responsible Function

Data Responsible Function

Withdrawal Responsible Function

Verification Responsible Function

Escalation Responsibility

Responsibilities must remain connected to applicable authority and
capability.

Stakeholder Identification

RPM must identify stakeholders materially affected by retirement.

Potential stakeholders include:

Software Owners

Operational Teams

Users

Customers

Integration Partners

Support Providers

Data Owners

Security Functions

Infrastructure Operators

External Authorities Where Applicable

Stakeholder identification must reflect actual dependency and
responsibility relationships.

Retirement Communication Requirements

RPM must identify material communication obligations.

Relevant elements include:

Communication Purpose

Affected Stakeholders

Retirement Scope

Support Changes

Migration Requirements

Operational Restrictions

Required Actions

Communication Timing

Responsible Function

Communication must not substitute for operational readiness or
authority.

Retirement Timeline and Conditions

RPM must establish relevant timing requirements.

Potential elements include:

Support End Condition

Maintenance End Condition

Migration Readiness Target

Operational Transition Window

Withdrawal Window

Verification Period

Residual Obligation Review

Retirement Closure Target

A target date must not override mandatory governance preconditions.

Retirement Readiness Assessment

RPM must determine whether the retirement plan has established the
conditions necessary for subsequent governance activities.

Relevant elements include:

Retirement Purpose Defined

Software Identity Established

Scope and Boundaries Defined

Material Dependencies Identified

Migration Requirements Established

Data Continuity Addressed

Operational Continuity Addressed

Security Requirements Identified

Required Authority Established

Resources and Capabilities Available

Verification Requirements Defined

Material Uncertainty Addressed

Readiness must remain evidence-supported and scope-specific.

Retirement Planning Classification

RPM recognizes the following planning states:

Planning Initiated

Software Identification Pending

Retirement Purpose Defined

Scope Assessment Active

Impact Assessment Active

Dependency Assessment Active

Migration Assessment Active

Feasibility Assessment Active

Authority Alignment Pending

Plan Draft

Plan Under Review

Plan Accepted

Plan Approved

Planning Ready

Planning Conditionally Ready

Planning Blocked

Planning Deferred

Planning Rejected

Reassessment Required

Unknown

Conflicted

Each classification must preserve the supporting evidence and
applicable conditions.

Planning Uncertainty

RPM must preserve uncertainty that materially affects retirement
feasibility or readiness.

Potential uncertainty includes:

Unknown Dependencies

Unverified Software Instances

Incomplete Data Inventory

Uncertain Migration Feasibility

Unknown Operational Consumers

Unverified Recovery Capability

Unclear Authority

Insufficient Resources

Conflicting Retirement Evidence

Material uncertainty must not be concealed by an aggregate readiness
score.

Planning Deviation

A planning deviation occurs when the retirement pathway differs
materially from the established assumptions or approved scope.

Potential deviations include:

Unexpected Dependency

Changed Software Scope

Unavailable Replacement

New Security Requirement

Migration Infeasibility

Resource Loss

Authority Change

New Operational Obligation

Material deviations must trigger appropriate reassessment.

Planning Reassessment

RPM must support reassessment when relevant conditions change.

Reassessment triggers may include:

New Software Instance Discovered

Dependency Relationship Changed

Replacement Software Changed

Migration Conditions Changed

Support Conditions Changed

Operational Requirements Changed

Security Exposure Changed

Retirement Authority Changed

Recovery Feasibility Changed

The revised plan must preserve its relationship to earlier planning
evidence and decisions.

Retirement Plan Versioning

Every material retirement plan revision must remain identifiable.

Relevant elements include:

Plan Version

Revision Origin

Changed Requirements

Changed Scope

Changed Dependencies

Changed Transition Sequence

Changed Authority Conditions

Changed Readiness Conclusions

Revision Evidence

Applicable Decision

Historical plan versions must not be silently overwritten.

Planning Evidence

RPM must preserve evidence supporting material planning conclusions.

Potential evidence includes:

Software Inventory

Artifact and Version Records

Deployment Records

Support Agreements

Maintenance Records

Security Assessments

Dependency Maps

Operational Monitoring

Data Inventories

Migration Feasibility Assessments

Replacement Assessments

Authority Records

Resource Assessments

Planning Decisions

Evidence must remain associated with the software state and conditions
to which it applies.

Governance Requirements

A conforming RPM implementation must satisfy the following
requirements. Retirement Identity and Purpose

Establish a stable retirement planning case identity
Identify the software object subject to retirement
Preserve the retirement origin
Establish the retirement purpose
Preserve retirement justification
Identify the current lifecycle state
Identify the current operational state
Define the intended retirement state

Scope and Impact

Establish retirement scope
Establish retirement boundaries
Identify affected software versions and environments
Evaluate retirement significance
Identify direct retirement consequences
Identify indirect retirement consequences
Identify material uncertainty
Preserve relevant impact evidence

Dependencies and Continuity

Identify upstream dependencies
Identify downstream dependencies
Identify unknown or unverified dependencies
Establish support transition requirements
Identify migration requirements
Evaluate replacement suitability where applicable
Establish data continuity requirements
Identify interface transition requirements
Establish operational continuity requirements
Identify security and authority implications

Feasibility and Readiness

Evaluate retirement feasibility
Identify applicable alternatives
Establish retirement sequencing
Identify mandatory preconditions
Establish resource requirements
Evaluate capability readiness
Identify required authority
Establish verification requirements
Evaluate recovery feasibility
Establish retirement readiness criteria

Governance and Continuity

Identify planning responsibility
Identify affected stakeholders
Establish material communication requirements
Preserve planning evidence
Establish planning status
Preserve plan revisions
Identify reassessment triggers
Prevent planning approval from being treated as withdrawal
Preserve handoff requirements to subsequent retirement
governance
Maintain continuity between the retirement plan and the original

authorization. retirement purpose.

Governance Logic

Retirement Signal → Retirement Case Identity → Software Object

Identification → Retirement Origin → Retirement Purpose → Retirement
Justification → Current Lifecycle State → Current Operational State →
Intended Retirement State → Retirement Scope → Retirement Boundary →
Retirement Impact → Dependency Assessment → Support Conditions →
Migration Requirements → Data Continuity → Operational Continuity →
Security and Authority Requirements → Retirement Feasibility →
Retirement Alternatives → Transition Sequence → Resource and
Capability Readiness → Verification Requirements → Retirement
Readiness → Planning Decision → Software Retirement Plan Profile

Where the proposed retirement is feasible:

Retirement Proposal → Feasibility Established → Transition Requirements

Defined → Readiness Assessment → Plan Approval or Acceptance

Where retirement depends on migration:

Retirement Proposal → Replacement Requirement → Migration Feasibility →

Data and Function Continuity → Transition Sequence → Migration Handoff

Where critical dependencies remain unknown:

Retirement Proposal → Dependency Uncertainty → Further Discovery → Revised

Impact Assessment → Updated Retirement Plan

Where retirement is not currently feasible:

Retirement Proposal → Feasibility Failure → Alternative Pathway / Deferral

/ Restricted Operation → Reassessment

Where material conditions change:

Existing Plan → New Evidence → Planning Reassessment → Revised Plan →

Updated Readiness

RPM must not equate retirement intention, planning completion, and
withdrawal authorization.

Governance Outputs

The principal output is:

Software Retirement Plan Profile

Supporting outputs may include:

Retirement Planning Case Identity

Retirement Origin Record

Retirement Purpose Profile

Retirement Justification Record

Current Software State Profile

Intended Retirement State Profile

Retirement Scope Record

Retirement Boundary Record

Retirement Impact Assessment

Retirement Dependency Map

Support Condition Assessment

Migration Requirement Profile

Replacement Feasibility Assessment

Data Continuity Requirements

Operational Continuity Requirements

Security and Authority Requirement Record

Retirement Alternative Assessment

Retirement Transition Sequence

Retirement Preconditions Register

Resource and Capability Readiness Assessment

Retirement Readiness Profile

Retirement Planning Evidence Register

Retirement Plan Revision Record

Minimum Implementation Framework

A minimum RPM implementation must establish eight governance layers.
Layer 1 — Retirement Identity and Purpose

Identify the retiring software, originating condition, retirement purpose,

and supporting justification. Layer 2 — Current and Intended States

Establish the software's actual lifecycle and operational conditions and

define the intended retirement state. Layer 3 — Scope and Impact

Identify the retirement scope, boundaries, affected systems, direct

consequences, and indirect consequences. Layer 4 — Dependencies and
Continuity

Identify upstream and downstream dependencies, data relationships,

operational continuity requirements, and material uncertainty. Layer 5
— Transition Requirements

Establish support transition, migration, replacement, security, access, and

withdrawal requirements where applicable. Layer 6 — Feasibility and
Authority

Evaluate technical and operational feasibility, required resources, actor

capabilities, applicable authority, and recovery conditions. Layer 7 —
Retirement Readiness

Establish mandatory preconditions, transition sequence, verification

requirements, and evidence-supported readiness conclusions. Layer 8 —
Planning Continuity

Preserve the Software Retirement Plan Profile, planning evidence,

decisions, revisions, unresolved conditions, and handoff requirements.

The framework may be implemented through manual governance processes,
software inventory systems, service management platforms, automated
analysis, or AI-assisted tools.

The methodology remains independent of the implementation technology.

Cross-Module Boundary

RPM → ESMM

RPM identifies support and maintenance conditions relevant to
retirement.

ESMM governs the detailed end-of-support transition, unsupported operation,

continuing support obligations, and associated restrictions.

RPM → SMM

RPM identifies migration requirements, feasibility, affected functions,

data relationships, and transition conditions.

SMM governs the detailed software migration process and its
verification.

RPM → RDMM

RPM identifies known and potential dependencies relevant to
retirement.

RDMM governs residual dependencies that must be resolved, transferred,
restricted, or explicitly retained during and after retirement.

RPM → RCCLM

RPM establishes the intended retirement state, scope, readiness conditions,

and verification requirements.

RCCLM evaluates the actual retirement outcome and establishes the

legitimate closure disposition.

RPM establishes the retirement pathway. It does not independently
establish that the pathway has been executed or completed.

Cross-Architecture Boundary

RPM establishes retirement planning requirements within SRTS.

It may depend on other SLGA™ Parent Standards where retirement
activities affect their governed domains.

SRS — Software Requirements Standard

Requirements governing replacement, migration, and continuing software

SCS — Software Creation Standard

Creation of migration tools, replacement components, or supporting
software.

SDS — Software Dependency Standard

Dependency identification, suitability, continuity, and change.

SCFS — Software Configuration Standard

Artifact identity, configuration baselines, and changes required for

SQS — Software Quality Standard

Quality requirements and verification of replacement or modified
software.

SSS — Software Security Standard

Security requirements, exposure, vulnerabilities, and remediation.

SRLS — Software Release Standard

Release governance for replacement or migration software.

SDPS — Software Deployment Standard

Deployment and operational transition governance.

SCMS — Software Change Management Standard

Governance of software changes required by retirement.

SLCS — Software Lifecycle Control Standard

Lifecycle state consistency, transition control, exceptions, and
continuity.

RPM may also reference applicable OOF® authority, accountability,
operational reality, autonomous systems, and data governance
mechanisms.

RPM does not replace their specialized governance functions.

Practical Applications

Enterprise Application Retirement

Planning the controlled withdrawal of obsolete applications while

preserving required operational functions and data access.

Cloud Service Consolidation

Establishing retirement pathways for redundant services and their dependent

Software Supply-Chain Modernization

Planning the removal of unsupported libraries and components from active

software products.

AI System Retirement

Identifying model dependencies, active services, stored outputs, access

permissions, and successor requirements.

Autonomous Agent Decommissioning

Planning the termination or transfer of agent execution, delegated

authority, active tasks, and continuing obligations.

Industrial and Embedded Software

Planning firmware withdrawal or replacement while preserving

physical-system compatibility and operational safety.

Critical Infrastructure

Establishing evidence-supported retirement feasibility, continuity

requirements, and transition readiness for software supporting
essential services.

Practical Use Case 1 — Retirement of an Unsupported Enterprise

An organization plans to retire an enterprise application because its

vendor has ended technical support.

The application appears obsolete, and a replacement system is
available.

An initial retirement proposal recommends deactivating the original

application within one month.

RPM establishes the retirement planning case and evaluates:

Software Identity → Operational Role → Retirement Purpose → Dependency

Relationships → Data Continuity → Replacement Feasibility → Transition
Requirements → Readiness

The assessment identifies:

The application remains connected to a financial reporting
process
Historical records are accessible only through a legacy
interface
The replacement system supports current operations but does not
yet
Immediate withdrawal would create a material data accessibility
Migration and compatibility verification are required before

reproduce all required historical reporting functions. problem.
retirement readiness can be established.

The retirement plan is revised to include historical data continuity,
replacement verification, dependency resolution, and controlled
withdrawal sequencing.

The appropriate planning classification is:

Retirement Planning Active — Migration and Data Continuity Preconditions

Outstanding.

Replacement Available ≠ Retirement Ready.

Practical Use Case 2 — Retirement Planning for an Autonomous

Maintenance Agent

An organization decides to replace an autonomous software maintenance agent

with a newer system.

The retiring agent performs repository maintenance, executes scheduled

checks, accesses deployment tools, and maintains persistent task
records.

The organization initially assumes that stopping the agent's main
execution process will complete its retirement.

RPM evaluates:

Agent Identity → Operational Functions → Active Tasks → Delegated

Authority → Tool Access → Data and Memory References → Successor
Requirements → Withdrawal Conditions

The assessment identifies:

The agent has active repository permissions
Scheduled tasks may continue through external automation
Some maintenance responsibilities must be transferred to the
successor
Persistent records are needed to preserve operational continuity
Access revocation requires coordination with shared
infrastructure
Retirement verification must cover more than the primary
execution

system. services. process.

RPM establishes a retirement pathway that includes task transfer,
authority termination, credential review, scheduled execution control,
and verification requirements.

The appropriate planning classification is:

Retirement Plan Conditionally Ready — Authority and Task Continuity

Preconditions Required.

Agent Execution Stopped ≠ Agent Retirement Completed.

Critical Distinctions

Retirement Proposal ≠ Retirement Decision.

Retirement Justification ≠ Retirement Feasibility.

Retirement Intention ≠ Retirement Readiness.

Retirement Plan Approved ≠ Withdrawal Authorized.

Planning Completed ≠ Retirement Executed.

Software Identified ≠ Every Operational Instance Identified.

Current Administrative State ≠ Actual Operational State.

Replacement Available ≠ Replacement Suitable.

Migration Planned ≠ Migration Feasible.

Support Termination ≠ Operational Withdrawal.

Unsupported Software ≠ Inactive Software.

Direct Impact Identified ≠ Indirect Impact Understood.

Dependency Listed ≠ Dependency Verified.

Data Migration Planned ≠ Data Continuity Established.

Task Authority ≠ Constituent Action Authority.

Agent Execution Termination ≠ Agent Authority Termination.

Readiness Assessment ≠ Withdrawal Verification.

Retirement Plan ≠ Retirement Closure.

Canonical Boundary

Retirement Planning Module (RPM) governs the evidence-supported

preparation of software retirement through identification,
justification, scope definition, impact assessment, feasibility
evaluation, transition planning, authority alignment, and readiness
determination.

It establishes the relationship between the retiring software's current

condition and its intended retirement state.

It identifies the dependencies, operational functions, data relationships,

migration requirements, support conditions, security implications, and
residual obligations that must be addressed through subsequent
retirement governance.

RPM does not execute software withdrawal, terminate support
obligations, perform migration, resolve residual dependencies, or
declare retirement complete.

Its principal governance output is the:

Software Retirement Plan Profile

This output provides the structured governance basis for controlled

software retirement while preserving the distinction between a planned
transition and a verified retirement outcome.

Canonical Closing Statement

Software retirement cannot be governed reliably when the organization
knows only what it wants to discontinue but does not know what still
depends on it.

An application may appear obsolete while remaining essential to
historical data access.

A library may no longer receive updates while continuing to support
active production systems.

A cloud service may be scheduled for shutdown while external consumers
still depend on its interfaces.

An autonomous agent may be marked for retirement while retaining
delegated permissions and unfinished tasks.

And embedded software may appear replaceable while physical equipment
remains dependent on its exact operational behavior.

RPM establishes the planning discipline required to recognize these

conditions before retirement actions begin.

It requires the retiring software to be identified within its actual
operational environment.

It connects the retirement purpose to evidence, feasibility, and the

intended resulting state.

It establishes the dependencies, migration requirements, support

transitions, authority conditions, and verification obligations that
must shape the retirement pathway.

It preserves uncertainty rather than concealing it within an
optimistic project schedule.

And it prevents the approval of a retirement plan from being mistaken for

proof that the software can already be withdrawn safely.

The purpose of retirement planning is not merely to determine when
software should stop operating. It is to establish what must be true
before its operational role can legitimately end.

Retirement Planning Module (RPM) transforms software retirement planning

from a discontinuation schedule into an evidence-supported governance
foundation for controlled transition, operational continuity, and
verifiable retirement readiness.