One owner
Each project names a single decision owner. Others can contribute, but one person's word closes a round.
Written
"Approved" in the thread is enough. A verbal yes on a call needs a one-line follow-up so the record exists.
If approval stalls
Work pauses at the last approved point. We do not carry on guessing — that risks producing a week of work in the wrong direction.
Long pauses
If a project pauses for more than a month, the restart is re-scheduled against current capacity. The work is not lost; the slot is.