A Recovery Playbook is a predefined intervention sequence triggered when a mandate crosses a failure threshold. Each playbook is matched to a specific failure signature: response decay, velocity stall, shortlist rejection, or HM disengagement. The framework defines the trigger condition, the sequence of recovery actions, the owner of each action, the timeline, and the expected outcome. Playbooks compound in effectiveness over time — each successful recovery adds to the system's understanding of which actions work for which failure patterns.
Why Playbooks Instead of Alerts
Most hiring systems generate alerts when something goes wrong. Alerts tell you there is a problem. Playbooks tell you exactly what to do about it — in what order, on what timeline, with what expected outcome. The difference is the gap between a dashboard and an operating system.
The Recovery Playbooks framework organises interventions by failure type. A mandate failing due to response decay requires a different intervention sequence than one failing due to shortlist rejection. Applying the wrong playbook wastes the intervention window. The framework ensures the right actions fire in the right sequence for the right failure pattern.
"A recovery playbook is not an alert. An alert tells you the building is on fire. A playbook tells you which exit to use, in what order, who holds the door."
Playbook Library: Failure Type → Recovery Sequence
| Failure Type | Trigger Condition | Recovery Sequence | Timeline | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Decay | Reply rate below 10% for 5+ days | 1. Audit subject lines 2. Switch sending domain 3. Adjust timing 4. Re-segment target list | 72 hours | Reply rate recovery to 15%+ |
| Velocity Stall | Stage avg 10+ days over SLO | 1. HM nudge 2. Interview panel audit 3. Scheduling system review 4. Escalate to sponsor | 48 hours | Stage clearance within SLO |
| Shortlist Rejection | 3+ consecutive declines | 1. Brief recalibration session 2. Re-score existing longlist 3. Expand sourcing universe 4. Re-submit with revised framing | 5 days | Approval rate 50%+ |
| HM Disengagement | No response to 2+ submissions | 1. CEO/sponsor escalation 2. Role prioritisation review 3. HM replacement assessment | 24 hours | Confirmed engagement or role deprioritisation |
| Recruiter Overload | 7+ active mandates | 1. Immediate mandate audit 2. Low-priority mandate park 3. Recruiter reassignment | Same day | Mandate load below 5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do recovery playbooks get better over time?
Every time a playbook executes, the system records which actions were taken, in what order, and what the outcome was. Over time, this builds an operational intelligence graph: which recovery actions work for which failure patterns in which industries at which search stages. Playbooks are refined automatically based on outcome data.
Can a mandate trigger more than one playbook?
Yes. A mandate can have multiple concurrent failure signals, each triggering its own playbook. The system prioritises by impact severity — response decay playbooks before velocity playbooks, for example — and sequences the actions to avoid conflicting interventions.
What happens if a playbook fails to recover the mandate?
If the primary playbook completes without recovery — the failure signal persists beyond the expected recovery window — the system escalates to the next-tier playbook and surfaces a manual review flag to the recruiting lead. Persistent failure triggers an executive escalation and a full mandate re-brief.