What is an institutional question?

An institutional question is the decision-facing question that initiates an SDX process.

It expresses what an institution needs to understand, assess, defend, or communicate. In SDX, the institutional question is not treated as a free analytical prompt. It must be converted into a bounded mandate before computation or evidence generation can become eligible.

This distinction is central. Institutions often ask broad or action-oriented questions, such as where resources should be allocated or which pathway should be chosen. SDX does not answer such questions directly as recommendations. Instead, it identifies the defensible analytical scope, separates prohibited uses from permitted assessment, and determines what can be examined under governance.

The institutional question is therefore the starting point of accountability. It connects the institution's need to the evidence system, but it does not by itself authorize claims, statements, or decision outputs.