Framework Overview

What this framework does

This framework explains why capable organisations continue to fail in predictable ways.

It distinguishes structural failure from individual failure.

Recurring problems are not caused by the people experiencing them. They are caused by the system those people operate within.

It traces persistent problems to authority and incentive design.
When problems do not reach the authority that can change design, failure repeats. Silence is rational. Workarounds replace escalation. Learning stops.

It shows why changing people cannot fix design problems.
Replacing leaders, rotating teams, or retraining staff does not change who holds authority, who bears consequences, or where decisions are made. The structure remains intact, so the outcome does too.

It makes design ownership visible and inescapable.
Ultimate authority always exists. When failure persists, it is because that authority has not been forced to decide whether the design should change. Inaction is not neutral. It is ownership.

What this framework does not do

This framework deliberately does not prescribe solutions.
Diagnosis comes before redesign. Without clear diagnosis, solutions are noise.

It does not provide an implementation methodology.
Methods without ownership fail by design. Implementation cannot be outsourced without breaking learning.

It does not claim one-size-fits-all fixes.
Every organisation has a different design. The framework explains how failure persists, not what your design should be.

Who this is for

This work is for people who have:

• seen the same failure pattern repeat across different teams or organisations

• watched “strong leaders” come and go without changing outcomes

• been told the problem is execution, culture, or capability — and know that isn’t true

It is for people with decision authority who are tired of blame-based explanations and need language that explains why replacing people does not fix structural failure.

If you are looking for motivation, tools, or quick fixes, this is not for you.

How to use this framework

Start with the book.
It explains the full mechanism: how failure is absorbed, how escalation dies, and how organisations adapt themselves into decay.

Use the diagnostic library to see the framework applied.
Each entry shows the same mechanism appearing in different forms.

Reference the framework when diagnosing your own organisation.
Use it to identify where problems stop, where authority becomes symbolic, and where ownership has been displaced.

This framework does not require engagement or facilitation.
If the diagnosis is correct, the implications are unavoidable.

Organisations do not fail because problems occur.
They fail because recurring problems never reach authority.