diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/jobengine/jobengine-dashboard.component.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/jobengine/jobengine-dashboard.component.ts
index f3b797fc1..ac7b99330 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/jobengine/jobengine-dashboard.component.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/jobengine/jobengine-dashboard.component.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, Component, OnInit, inject, signal } from '@angular/core';
+import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, Component, OnInit, computed, inject, signal } from '@angular/core';
 import { RouterLink } from '@angular/router';
 import { catchError, forkJoin, of } from 'rxjs';
 
@@ -58,6 +58,12 @@ import { OPERATIONS_PATHS } from '../platform/ops/operations-paths';
         </article>
       </section>
 
+      @if (allCountsZero()) {
+        <p class="jobengine-dashboard__empty-hint">
+          No jobs have been submitted yet. Jobs are created automatically when releases are promoted, scans are triggered, or scheduled tasks run.
+        </p>
+      }
+
       <section class="jobengine-dashboard__grid">
         <a class="surface" [routerLink]="OPERATIONS_PATHS.jobEngineJobs">
           <h2>Jobs</h2>
@@ -237,6 +243,15 @@ import { OPERATIONS_PATHS } from '../platform/ops/operations-paths';
       font-size: 0.85rem;
     }
 
+    .jobengine-dashboard__empty-hint {
+      margin: 0;
+      padding: 0.75rem 1rem;
+      color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+      font-size: 0.9rem;
+      line-height: 1.5;
+      border-left: 3px solid var(--color-border-primary);
+    }
+
     .jobengine-dashboard__grid {
       display: grid;
       grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));
@@ -339,6 +354,16 @@ export class JobEngineDashboardComponent implements OnInit {
   protected readonly jobSummary = signal<JobEngineJobSummary | null>(null);
   protected readonly quotaSummary = signal<JobEngineQuotaSummary | null>(null);
   protected readonly deadLetterStats = signal<JobEngineDeadLetterStatsResponse | null>(null);
+  protected readonly allCountsZero = computed(() => {
+    const jobs = this.jobSummary();
+    const quotas = this.quotaSummary();
+    const dl = this.deadLetterStats();
+    return !this.loading()
+      && (jobs?.totalJobs ?? 0) === 0
+      && (quotas?.totalQuotas ?? 0) === 0
+      && (dl?.totalEntries ?? 0) === 0;
+  });
+
   ngOnInit(): void {
     this.refresh();
   }
diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-dashboard.component.spec.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-dashboard.component.spec.ts
index 7bf0f3f4b..696b954b1 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-dashboard.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-dashboard.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { ComponentFixture, TestBed, fakeAsync, tick } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
+import { RouterTestingModule } from '@angular/router/testing';
 import { Component, Input, Output, EventEmitter } from '@angular/core';
 import { of, throwError } from 'rxjs';
 import { delay } from 'rxjs/operators';
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ describe('ShadowModeDashboardComponent', () => {
     })
       .overrideComponent(ShadowModeDashboardComponent, {
         set: {
-          imports: [MockShadowModeIndicatorComponent, ReactiveFormsModule],
+          imports: [MockShadowModeIndicatorComponent, ReactiveFormsModule, RouterTestingModule],
           providers: [{ provide: POLICY_SIMULATION_API, useValue: mockApi }],
         },
       })
diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-dashboard.component.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-dashboard.component.ts
index ace057aa5..60e776fe1 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-dashboard.component.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-dashboard.component.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { CommonModule } from '@angular/common';
 import { Component, ChangeDetectionStrategy, inject, computed, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
 import { FormBuilder, ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
+import { RouterModule } from '@angular/router';
 
 import { ShadowModeIndicatorComponent } from './shadow-mode-indicator.component';
 import { ShadowModeStateService } from './shadow-mode-state.service';
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ import { ShadowModeStateService } from './shadow-mode-state.service';
  */
 @Component({
     selector: 'app-shadow-mode-dashboard',
-    imports: [CommonModule, ReactiveFormsModule, ShadowModeIndicatorComponent],
+    imports: [CommonModule, ReactiveFormsModule, RouterModule, ShadowModeIndicatorComponent],
     changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
     template: `
     <section class="shadow-dashboard" [attr.aria-busy]="loading()">
@@ -192,6 +193,10 @@ import { ShadowModeStateService } from './shadow-mode-state.service';
           <button class="btn" (click)="onEnableShadowMode()" [disabled]="loading()">
             Enable Shadow Mode
           </button>
+          <p class="shadow-dashboard__prereq">
+            Shadow mode requires at least one active policy pack.
+            <a routerLink="/ops/policy/packs">Create a pack in the Packs tab first.</a>
+          </p>
         </div>
       }
     </section>
@@ -530,6 +535,23 @@ import { ShadowModeStateService } from './shadow-mode-state.service';
       .shadow-dashboard__empty p {
         margin: 0 0 1.5rem;
       }
+
+      .shadow-dashboard__prereq {
+        margin-top: 1rem;
+        font-size: 0.8rem;
+        color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+        line-height: 1.5;
+      }
+
+      .shadow-dashboard__prereq a {
+        color: var(--color-status-info-border);
+        text-decoration: underline;
+        text-underline-offset: 2px;
+      }
+
+      .shadow-dashboard__prereq a:hover {
+        color: var(--color-status-info);
+      }
     `,
     ]
 })
diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-indicator.component.spec.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-indicator.component.spec.ts
index c0257eb86..f3370b25c 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-indicator.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-indicator.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
+import { RouterTestingModule } from '@angular/router/testing';
 
 import { ShadowModeIndicatorComponent } from './shadow-mode-indicator.component';
 import { ShadowModeConfig } from '../../core/api/policy-simulation.models';
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ describe('ShadowModeIndicatorComponent', () => {
 
   beforeEach(async () => {
     await TestBed.configureTestingModule({
-      imports: [ShadowModeIndicatorComponent],
+      imports: [ShadowModeIndicatorComponent, RouterTestingModule],
     }).compileComponents();
 
     fixture = TestBed.createComponent(ShadowModeIndicatorComponent);
@@ -264,6 +265,47 @@ describe('ShadowModeIndicatorComponent', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('Prerequisite Help Text', () => {
+    it('should show prerequisite text when disabled and actions visible', () => {
+      component.config = mockDisabledConfig;
+      component.showActions = true;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const prereq = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.shadow-indicator__prereq');
+      expect(prereq).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(prereq.textContent).toContain('Shadow mode requires at least one active policy pack');
+    });
+
+    it('should include link to packs page', () => {
+      component.config = mockDisabledConfig;
+      component.showActions = true;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const link = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.shadow-indicator__prereq a');
+      expect(link).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(link.textContent).toContain('Create a pack in the Packs tab first.');
+      expect(link.getAttribute('href')).toBe('/ops/policy/packs');
+    });
+
+    it('should hide prerequisite text when enabled', () => {
+      component.config = mockEnabledConfig;
+      component.showActions = true;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const prereq = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.shadow-indicator__prereq');
+      expect(prereq).toBeFalsy();
+    });
+
+    it('should hide prerequisite text when actions hidden', () => {
+      component.config = mockDisabledConfig;
+      component.showActions = false;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const prereq = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('.shadow-indicator__prereq');
+      expect(prereq).toBeFalsy();
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('Loading State', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       component.config = mockDisabledConfig;
diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-indicator.component.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-indicator.component.ts
index 3d84efe47..360a20df0 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-indicator.component.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-simulation/shadow-mode-indicator.component.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 
 import { Component, ChangeDetectionStrategy, Input, Output, EventEmitter } from '@angular/core';
+import { RouterModule } from '@angular/router';
 
 import { ShadowModeConfig } from '../../core/api/policy-simulation.models';
 
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ import { ShadowModeConfig } from '../../core/api/policy-simulation.models';
  */
 @Component({
     selector: 'app-shadow-mode-indicator',
-    imports: [],
+    imports: [RouterModule],
     changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush,
     template: `
     <div
@@ -85,6 +86,13 @@ import { ShadowModeConfig } from '../../core/api/policy-simulation.models';
           </button>
         </div>
       }
+
+      @if (showActions && !config?.enabled) {
+        <p class="shadow-indicator__prereq">
+          Shadow mode requires at least one active policy pack.
+          <a routerLink="/ops/policy/packs">Create a pack in the Packs tab first.</a>
+        </p>
+      }
     </div>
     `,
     styles: [
@@ -225,6 +233,24 @@ import { ShadowModeConfig } from '../../core/api/policy-simulation.models';
         opacity: 0.5;
         cursor: not-allowed;
       }
+
+      .shadow-indicator__prereq {
+        margin: 0;
+        font-size: 0.75rem;
+        color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+        line-height: 1.4;
+        max-width: 220px;
+      }
+
+      .shadow-indicator__prereq a {
+        color: var(--color-status-info-border);
+        text-decoration: underline;
+        text-underline-offset: 2px;
+      }
+
+      .shadow-indicator__prereq a:hover {
+        color: var(--color-status-info);
+      }
     `,
     ]
 })
diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-studio/workspace/policy-workspace.component.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-studio/workspace/policy-workspace.component.ts
index 14b5a3f4f..a00516800 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-studio/workspace/policy-workspace.component.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/policy-studio/workspace/policy-workspace.component.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,19 @@ import { PolicyPackStore } from '../services/policy-pack.store';
               </div>
             </dl>
           </article>
+        } @empty {
+          @if (!loading) {
+            <div class="workspace__empty" data-testid="policy-packs-empty-state">
+              <h3>No policy packs configured</h3>
+              <p>
+                Policy packs define the rules that govern release decisions.
+                Create a pack to start defining your organization's release policy.
+              </p>
+              <a routerLink="/ops/policy/overview" class="workspace__empty-link">
+                Learn about policy packs
+              </a>
+            </div>
+          }
         }
       </div>
       <div class="workspace__footer">
@@ -126,6 +139,11 @@ import { PolicyPackStore } from '../services/policy-pack.store';
       .workspace__banner { background: var(--color-status-warning-bg); border: 1px solid var(--color-status-warning-border); color: var(--color-status-warning-text); padding: 0.75rem 1rem; border-radius: var(--radius-xl); margin: 0.5rem 0 1rem; }
       .workspace__footer { margin-top: 0.8rem; }
       .workspace__footer button { background: var(--color-brand-primary); border: 1px solid var(--color-brand-primary); color: var(--color-text-inverse); border-radius: var(--radius-lg); padding: 0.45rem 0.8rem; cursor: pointer; }
+      .workspace__empty { grid-column: 1 / -1; text-align: center; padding: 3rem 1.5rem; border: 1px dashed var(--color-border-primary); border-radius: var(--radius-xl); background: var(--color-surface-elevated); }
+      .workspace__empty h3 { margin: 0 0 0.5rem; color: var(--color-text-heading); }
+      .workspace__empty p { margin: 0 0 1rem; color: var(--color-text-muted); max-width: 480px; margin-inline: auto; }
+      .workspace__empty-link { display: inline-block; color: var(--color-brand-primary); border: 1px solid var(--color-brand-primary); border-radius: var(--radius-lg); padding: 0.45rem 0.8rem; text-decoration: none; }
+      .workspace__empty-link:hover { background: var(--color-brand-primary); color: var(--color-text-inverse); }
     `,
     ]
 })