Vika Intelligence Publication Governance Framework
Publication Governance
The operational framework governing how Vika Intelligence publications are commissioned, edited, issued, corrected, and retired.
Implements the standards set out in the Editorial Charter. Established 24 July 2026.
Constitutional Document
This framework is a constitutional document. It is not revised in response to individual publication decisions. Changes are rare, deliberate, and formally recorded in the Editorial Record. The publication standards this framework implements are set out in the Editorial Charter.
Contents
Scope and Relationship to the Editorial Charter
This framework governs the operational procedures for all Vika Intelligence publications. It implements the standards set out in the Editorial Charter.
The Editorial Charter defines what a Vika publication must be. This framework defines how publications are commissioned, edited, issued, corrected, and retired. The two documents are complementary. Neither supersedes the other.
Where this framework is silent on a matter of editorial standard, the Editorial Charter governs. Where the Editorial Charter is silent on a matter of procedure, this framework governs.
Commissioning
A publication is commissioned when a decision is made to produce it. Commissioning is a formal act, not an informal intention.
Subject identification
A subject is identified. For Research Dossiers, the subject must have sufficient primary-source coverage to support a fully sourced publication. For Perspectives essays, the subject must be an argument the author is prepared to defend in writing.
Knowledge graph position
For Research Dossiers, the position of the proposed publication in the knowledge graph is identified before commissioning. The question is: which existing node does this build upon? A Dossier that cannot answer this question is not commissioned.
Publication type
The publication type is confirmed: Research Dossier, Perspectives essay, Annual Letter, Monthly Intelligence Note, or Quarterly Industrial Outlook. The type determines the applicable longevity standard and archiving procedure.
Commission record
The commission is recorded in the Editorial Record as a pending entry. It becomes a ledger entry on publication.
Editing and Pre-Publication Review
Every publication passes through the eight quality gates defined in the Editorial Charter (§II) before it is issued. The gates are applied in sequence. A publication that fails any gate is not issued until the failure is resolved.
Source verification
Every factual claim is traced to its source. The source is verified to exist, to be publicly accessible or institutionally verifiable, and to say what the publication claims it says. Sources that cannot be verified are removed.
Independence review
The publication is reviewed for commercial self-reference. Any reference to Vika Group's strategic position is moved to §VII and clearly identified. It does not appear in §I–§VI.
Analytical estimate labelling
Any figure or conclusion that is a Vika Group analytical estimate — rather than a published primary source — is explicitly labelled as such. The basis for the estimate is stated.
Longevity assessment
The publication is assessed against the longevity test: will this still be worth reading in five years? Time-sensitive material is moved to an Intelligence Note or flagged for the Quarterly Outlook.
Final review
The founding principal reviews the publication before issue. The review confirms that the eight gates have been applied and that the publication meets the standard of the Editorial Charter.
Issuance and Versioning
A publication is issued when it is made publicly available at its canonical URL. Issuance is recorded in the Publication Ledger in the Editorial Record.
Version numbering
First editions are issued as Version 1.0. Corrections that do not change the argument are issued as minor version increments (1.1, 1.2, etc.). New editions that revise the argument or add substantial new analysis are issued as major version increments (2.0, 3.0, etc.).
Canonical URL
Each publication has a single canonical URL that does not change between versions. The URL is registered in the sitemap on issuance.
Ledger entry
Issuance is recorded in the Publication Ledger: date, event, publication title, and version ID. The ledger is the authoritative record of what has been issued.
Knowledge graph update
For Research Dossiers, the knowledge graph is updated to reflect the new node. Cross-references in related Dossiers are reviewed and updated where necessary.
Corrections
A correction is issued when a published claim is found to be factually incorrect. The procedure for corrections is as follows.
Identification
A factual error is identified. The error may be identified internally or reported by a reader. The identification is recorded with the source of the correction.
Assessment
The error is assessed: is it a factual error (the claim is wrong), a source error (the source does not support the claim), or a labelling error (the claim is correct but its basis is not properly disclosed)? The correction procedure applies to all three.
Correction
The correction is applied to the publication. The correction preserves the original argument where it is supportable. If the correction would require the argument to change, the publication is reviewed for a new edition or retirement.
Version increment
The version number is incremented. The version history in the publication is updated to record the correction.
Register entry
The correction is recorded in the Corrections Register in the Editorial Record: register ID, affected publication, description of the change, version applied, and date.
Ledger entry
The correction is recorded in the Publication Ledger as a 'New edition' event.
New Editions
A new edition is issued when the argument of a publication is revised, when substantial new analysis is added, or when conditions have changed materially enough to require a comprehensive update.
A new edition is not a correction. It is a new version of the publication. The pre-publication review process (§III) applies in full to new editions.
New editions are recorded in the Publication Ledger. The previous edition is archived, not deleted. The canonical URL remains unchanged.
Retirement
A publication is retired when it is no longer accurate enough to be useful and a new edition is not warranted. Retirement is a formal act.
Decision
The decision to retire a publication is made by the founding principal. The decision is recorded in the Editorial Record.
Archiving
The publication is archived. It remains accessible at its canonical URL with a prominent notice that it has been retired and the date of retirement. It is not deleted.
Knowledge graph update
The knowledge graph is updated to reflect the retirement. Cross-references in related Dossiers are reviewed and updated.
Ledger entry
The retirement is recorded in the Publication Ledger.
The Knowledge Graph
The Research Dossier series is organised as a directed knowledge graph. Each Dossier occupies a node. The directed path from D001 to the current terminus defines the recommended reading sequence for a reader building a complete understanding of the subject.
The graph has a single root node: D001 — The Central African Copperbelt. All other Dossiers are downstream of D001, directly or indirectly.
A new Dossier is not commissioned without identifying its position in the graph. The question is: which existing node does this build upon? A Dossier that cannot answer this question does not belong in the series.
The graph is not a hierarchy. It is a directed path. A reader who has read D001 has the foundation for every other Dossier. A reader who has read the full path has a complete analytical framework for Central African industrial investment.
Authority and Amendment
This framework is established by the founding principal of Vika Group and takes effect from 24 July 2026.
Amendments require a formal decision by the founding principal, recorded in the Editorial Record. Amendments are not made in response to individual publication decisions.
The framework does not expire. It remains in force until formally amended or superseded.