# G04 — Allocation

- Publisher: FinOps Foundation
- Primary source: [Allocation](https://framework.finops.org/framework/capabilities/allocation/)
- Observed: 2026-10-22 (Europe/Berlin session date)
- Publication date: unknown — no reliable date established from the read
- Updated date: unknown — no reliable date established from the read
- Read status: opened and relevant section read through web tool
- Evidence locator: Definition; Shared Cost Strategy, paragraphs beginning Many early FinOps practices and Allocation of shared costs
- Evidence class: primary maintainer/provider guidance; not an independent impact study

## Short evidence fragment

> Choose for each shared cost what kind of allocation policy generates the best value for the organization.

## Researcher's reading note

Direct ownership, metadata and shared-cost rules are separate design choices. Centrally budgeted shared costs can be an explicit policy; fixed, proportional and proxy-based allocation are alternatives.

## Limits and use

Allocation is a management policy and may not measure avoidable marginal cost. More precision is not automatically more useful.

## Retention

This card preserves a short evidence fragment and an original reading note; full source text is not copied. FinOps/FOCUS adaptations should credit the FinOps Foundation / FOCUS as applicable (their pages state CC BY 4.0). Re-open mutable documentation before implementing controls.