Vertical Alignment
One of the five alignment lenses. The foundation-to-strategy check: does what we are pursuing actually reflect who we say we are? (Strategy as Infrastructure, Ch 9)
Why it matters
Vertical alignment traces the chain from foundation upward. Every strategy should connect to mission, express the vision, and operate within the boundaries set by values, beliefs, and principles. When those connections hold, the organisation’s actions are grounded in its identity. When they break, you get foundation drift — the slow, corrosive erosion that happens when operational pressure overrides foundational commitments.
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