# Core concepts

> The rules that decide how a case moves between stages and when it ends, and the contract that the Case Manager agent works with.

This section explains the concepts behind how a case runs: the rules that decide when a stage or a case ends, and the input and output contract of the Case Manager agent.

* [Exit rules and early stage termination](./maestro-case-understanding-exit-rules.md)
* [Case Manager input and output contract](./case-manager-input-output-contract.md)