FG-0211 Resource Governance
Description
Establish explicit constraints on token consumption, compute resources, and time allocation for AI agent operations. Without resource governance, agents optimize for output quality without regard for cost, executing unlimited iterations, spawning parallel processes, and consuming tokens at economically unsustainable rates. Resource governance defines budgets, thresholds, and escalation triggers that balance output quality against operational cost.
Implementation
Define per-session token budgets, per-task time limits, and compute allocation ceilings. Implement monitoring that alerts when consumption exceeds thresholds. Establish escalation procedures for tasks that require budget exceptions. Review resource utilization weekly and adjust baselines based on observed patterns.
Success Indicators
- Token consumption per task is predictable within defined variance
- Resource-intensive operations require explicit authorization
- Cost trends are visible and tracked over time
- Budget exceptions follow a documented escalation process
Failure Modes
- Budgets too restrictive, so agents cut corners or produce incomplete output to stay within limits
- No monitoring, so consumption stays invisible until the invoice arrives
- Resource governance applied uniformly rather than scaled to task complexity
- Optimization theater: tracking metrics without acting on the trends they reveal