# Intent Integrity Intent integrity is the quality and continuity of the reasoning that shapes and connects intent, direction, and execution as a change unfolds. Source: Rozema, L. (2026). Intent integrity: A unifying principle for reasoning in organizational change (Version 1.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21944265 Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Machine-readable views: - https://www.intent-integrity.com/llms.txt: every defined term with its canonical definition - https://www.intent-integrity.com/llms-full.txt: every concept page in full, with related-concept claims - https://www.intent-integrity.com/glossary.json: the same terms, plus every relationship as a typed edge ## Live pages - https://www.intent-integrity.com - https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-integrity - https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent - https://www.intent-integrity.com/direction - https://www.intent-integrity.com/execution - https://www.intent-integrity.com/organizational-state - https://www.intent-integrity.com/outcome - https://www.intent-integrity.com/change-need - https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop - https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop/intent - https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop/direction - https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop/execution - https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop/validation - https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop/evolution - https://www.intent-integrity.com/change-gap-model - https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-gap - https://www.intent-integrity.com/direction-gap - https://www.intent-integrity.com/execution-gap - https://www.intent-integrity.com/outcome-references - https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-quality - https://www.intent-integrity.com/direction-quality - https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-tracing - https://www.intent-integrity.com/outcome-validation - https://www.intent-integrity.com/capability-evolution - https://www.intent-integrity.com/change-capability - https://www.intent-integrity.com/silent-drift - https://www.intent-integrity.com/delivery-success-and-outcome-success - https://www.intent-integrity.com/scope-and-limits - https://www.intent-integrity.com/concepts - https://www.intent-integrity.com/about - https://www.intent-integrity.com/paper ## Defined terms ### Organizational state At any point, an organization exists in a particular organizational state: how some relevant part of it is structured or operates at that time. https://www.intent-integrity.com/organizational-state ### Outcome An outcome is a condition or effect resulting from how that state operates within its context, in relation to something that matters to the organization or its stakeholders. https://www.intent-integrity.com/outcome ### Change need A change need is a problem, opportunity, constraint, or other condition that provides a reason to consider change. https://www.intent-integrity.com/change-need ### Intent Intent is what the change is trying to achieve and why. https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent ### Direction Direction is the chosen way of pursuing the established intent. https://www.intent-integrity.com/direction ### Execution Execution is the process of realizing the chosen direction in practice. https://www.intent-integrity.com/execution ### Intent Integrity Intent integrity is the quality and continuity of the reasoning that shapes and connects intent, direction, and execution as a change unfolds. https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-integrity ### The Change Gap Model The Change Gap Model distinguishes four outcome positions to show how the possibilities available to a change become progressively constrained and what is ultimately realized. https://www.intent-integrity.com/change-gap-model ### Intent gap The intent gap is the potential lost in establishing the intent. https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-gap ### Direction gap The direction gap is the potential lost in choosing a direction. https://www.intent-integrity.com/direction-gap ### Execution gap The execution gap is the potential left unrealized through execution that was available through the chosen direction. https://www.intent-integrity.com/execution-gap ### Outcome references To connect the model with expectations and evidence in practice, organizations can use outcome references: an outcome baseline for current outcomes, outcome targets for the outcomes expected if the chosen direction is realized, and outcome results for realized outcomes. https://www.intent-integrity.com/outcome-references ### The Intent Loop The Intent Loop provides a structure for maintaining intent integrity through five functions: Intent, Direction, Execution, Validation, and Evolution. https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop ### Intent Establish what outcomes to pursue and why. https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop/intent ### Direction Choose what to change and the approach for changing it in pursuit of the established intent. https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop/direction ### Execution Realize the chosen direction in practice while keeping the course of execution connected to the reasoning behind the change. https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop/execution ### Validation Establish evidence about emerging and realized outcomes, compare it with expectations, and assess what it implies for the reasoning behind the change. https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop/validation ### Evolution Use experience from change to adapt, renew, and strengthen the capability through which future change is undertaken. https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-loop/evolution ### Intent quality Intent quality concerns how well the change need is understood, how relevant and valuable outcomes are identified, whether affected interests and relevant perspectives are adequately considered, and how priorities, trade-offs, constraints, assumptions, and uncertainty are handled when establishing intent. https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-quality ### Direction quality Direction quality concerns the alternatives, evidence, assumptions, expected causal relationships, uncertainties, and trade-offs considered when choosing the target state and approach through which to pursue the established intent. https://www.intent-integrity.com/direction-quality ### Intent tracing Intent tracing is the practice of maintaining continuity between the reasoning behind intent and direction and the course of execution, so that significant divergence and emerging evidence can be understood in relation to that reasoning and earlier reasoning can be reconsidered when needed. https://www.intent-integrity.com/intent-tracing ### Silent drift One form of lost continuity is silent drift: the course of execution gradually diverges from the chosen direction without the significance of that divergence being recognized. https://www.intent-integrity.com/silent-drift ### Outcome validation Outcome validation uses available evidence about emerging and realized outcomes to assess what outcomes are being realized, how they compare with expectations, and what they imply for the reasoning behind the change. https://www.intent-integrity.com/outcome-validation ### Change capability Change capability is the capacity of an organization to undertake deliberate change. https://www.intent-integrity.com/change-capability ### Capability evolution Capability evolution uses what is learned through change to adapt, renew, and strengthen this capability for future change. https://www.intent-integrity.com/capability-evolution ### Delivery success and outcome success Delivery success and outcome success are two different things: a change can be delivered successfully while the outcomes that justified it are not achieved. https://www.intent-integrity.com/delivery-success-and-outcome-success