Continuous governance
Observe
Observe is read-side. It compares recorded desired state, the current repository, and approved baselines. It does not mutate the repository.
Where this sits
Start Intentional change Continuous governance
Observe is feedback and verification. It appears before Remediate because restore is only valid after drift is proven. It appears after Remediate because a follow-up observation checks the result. Those are the same concept in the loop, not two different Observe kinds.
It can distinguish actual governed-file drift, a newer approved baseline that is available, and unknown or unevaluable state. A newer approved baseline is not drift.
Incomplete evaluation is never reported as compliant. Dispatch may explain observed state; it does not evaluate policy.