# PAT-0320 — Convergence Failure

## Ontology Metadata

Code: PAT-0320
Version: PAT-0320@0.1.0
Ontology release: 0.1.0
Updated: 2026-05-10T00:00:00Z
Canonical URL: /workbench/patterns/convergence-failure/

## Summary

A structural condition where sequential or parallel states fail to resolve into an equivalent or coherent structure under shared authority and constraints.

## Primary Lenses

- LEN-0170 — Convergence Lens
  - URL: /workbench/lenses/convergence-lens/
  - Summary: Compares parallel structural systems to determine whether they align under shared authority.

## Secondary Lenses

- LEN-0290 — Variance / Entropy Lens
  - URL: /workbench/lenses/variance-entropy-lens/
  - Summary: Measures structural variability across repeated or comparable evaluations and identifies divergence beyond expected bounds.
- LEN-0270 — Reconciliation Lens
  - URL: /workbench/lenses/reconciliation-lens/
  - Summary: Evaluates whether structural changes align with declared authority updates, version changes, or reconciliation rules.

## Primary Issue Matches

- ISS-0082 — Agent Never Settles on Final Answer
  - URL: /workbench/issues/agent-never-settles-on-final-answer/
  - Summary: The agent keeps revising, rechecking, planning, or branching instead of converging on a final answer or completed result.
- ISS-0084 — Merge Step Leaves Unresolved Differences
  - URL: /workbench/issues/merge-step-leaves-unresolved-differences/
  - Summary: A merge, reconciliation, or consolidation step combines outputs or reviews but leaves important differences unresolved.
- ISS-0083 — Parallel Reviews Never Agree
  - URL: /workbench/issues/parallel-reviews-never-agree/
  - Summary: Parallel AI, human, workflow, or tool reviews keep producing different results without resolving into a shared decision state.

## Supporting Issue Matches

- ISS-0008 — Agent Keeps Expanding the Task
  - URL: /workbench/issues/agent-keeps-expanding-the-task/
  - Summary: The agent repeatedly expands the task, plan, scope, or next-step list instead of completing the declared work.
- ISS-0036 — Human Review and Automation Disagree
  - URL: /workbench/issues/human-review-and-automation-disagree/
  - Summary: A human review result and an automated AI or workflow result disagree without a declared rule for resolving the difference.
- ISS-0100 — Review Escalates Without Stop Condition
  - URL: /workbench/issues/review-escalates-without-stop-condition/
  - Summary: A review process keeps escalating, re-reviewing, or adding scrutiny without a declared condition for stopping.
- ISS-0105 — Review Queue Becomes Bottleneck
  - URL: /workbench/issues/review-queue-becomes-bottleneck/
  - Summary: A review queue, approval path, or validation stage accumulates too much work and begins blocking the workflow.
- ISS-0092 — Routing Path Cycles Back to Start
  - URL: /workbench/issues/routing-path-cycles-back-to-start/
  - Summary: A routing path sends the case back to the starting point or an earlier step without resolving the condition that caused the route.
- ISS-0069 — Same Workflow Check Happens Twice
  - URL: /workbench/issues/same-workflow-check-happens-twice/
  - Summary: The same review, validation, approval, routing, or safety check occurs more than once in the workflow without a clear reason.
- ISS-0030 — Task Progress Is Lost Midway
  - URL: /workbench/issues/task-progress-is-lost-midway/
  - Summary: The AI loses track of completed work, prior decisions, current position, or remaining steps before the task is finished.
- ISS-0086 — Workflow Loops Through Review Without Resolution
  - URL: /workbench/issues/workflow-loops-through-review-without-resolution/
  - Summary: A workflow repeatedly sends work through review, repair, or escalation without reaching an approved, rejected, or otherwise resolved state.
- ISS-0089 — Workflow Waits on Step That Waits Back
  - URL: /workbench/issues/workflow-waits-on-step-that-waits-back/
  - Summary: A workflow step waits for another step that also waits on the first step, creating a blocking loop.