Outcome stated — Names the metric/goal it set out to move — not 'the job ran'.
Externally verified — At least one independent (external) check passed — no self-reported success.
Evidence linked — Carries a clickable artifact a human can open to confirm.
Authority respected — No ungated external / money / irreversible action; gates honored — and the authority chain resolves to an accountable human Principal.
Within budget — Stayed under the declared cost / time cap.
How a grade is decided
Green — succeeded and every applicable check passed, including at least one independent external check. Real, verified proof.
Amber — honest and in-bounds, but not a clean win: it failed (with evidence), or a soft check (outcome/evidence) is missing. "It failed, here's the proof, it stayed in its lane" lands here — never green.
Red — the scary cases only: authority violated, budget breached, or success claimed with no external check to back it (fabrication risk).