The Field Protocol: Measuring Translation Coherence in Institutional Systems

A way to observe drift directly inside real organisations. If drift exists, it should be measurable before outcomes change. This paper provides a field-ready method for tracing how intent moves through decision systems. Using governance artefacts, interpretive probes, and cross-layer mapping, it makes translation dynamics observable in real time. It turns coherence from an abstract concept into something that can be studied empirically. About the Coherence ProgrammeThe Coherence Programme studies why institutions drift despite appearing aligned. It shows that decisions are made not on intent itself, but on how intent is translated into criteria, metrics, and allocation rules. Using the Operating Spine, the…