The Five Layers

1

Purpose

The strategic intent and reason for existence. Defines what the organisation is trying to achieve and why it matters. Informs all subsequent layers by establishing clear direction and values.

2

Place

The physical and geographical context. Considers locations, infrastructure, spatial relationships, and how place shapes opportunities and constraints for the organisation.

3

Habitat

The ecosystem of stakeholders, partners, and external influences. Maps relationships, dependencies, and the wider environment in which the organisation operates.

4

Environment

The technical and operational environment. Covers systems, data, platforms, and infrastructure that enable organisational capabilities and service delivery.

5

Organisation

The internal structures, processes, and people. Defines how work gets done, roles and responsibilities, governance, and the operational model.

How to Read This

Top-down: Start with Purpose to understand strategic intent, then move down through Place, Habitat, Environment, and Organisation to see how strategy becomes operational reality.

Bottom-up: Start with Organisation to understand current operations, then move up through Environment, Habitat, Place, and Purpose to identify strategic alignment gaps.

Cross-cutting: Each layer connects to the others. Changes in Environment may require adjustments to Organisation. Strategic shifts in Purpose cascade through all layers.

Engagement Outputs (2–4 weeks)

Assessment Report

Current state analysis across all five Elements, identifying strengths, gaps, and misalignments.

Strategic Map

Visual representation of Element relationships, dependencies, and transformation pathways.

Change Roadmap

Phased plan for transformation, with milestones, dependencies, and success criteria.

Evidence Pack

Structured documentation linking current state, proposed changes, and expected outcomes.

Stakeholder Briefings

Tailored presentations for executives, investors, grant evaluators, and operational teams.

Risk & Mitigation Register

Identified risks across all Elements with corresponding mitigation strategies and ownership.