Narrative Drift Detector
Detect gradual reinterpretation of institutional purpose
Narrative Drift: Mission statements don't change—their interpretation does. Gradual reinterpretation across leadership transitions can hollow out purpose while maintaining the appearance of continuity. This detector identifies early warning signs of drift.
Assessment Period
Drift Indicators
Language Shift
narrativeChanges in how mission language is used over time
Priority Inversion
operationalSecondary goals gradually taking precedence over primary mission
Stakeholder Creep
relationalNew stakeholder interests overriding founding beneficiaries
Temporal Compression
temporalLong-term thinking giving way to short-term pressures
Success Redefinition
measurementMetrics being changed to show success despite mission drift
Key Insight from IMG Theory
Narrative drift is often invisible because it happens gradually. Each small reinterpretation seems reasonable in context. The danger is cumulative coherence loss—when you look back after 20 years, the organization no longer resembles its founding purpose, even though each step felt justified.