See what a target structurally implies before numbers carry weight.
Upstream examines targets for clarity of intent, control, mechanism, evidence, and expectation. It makes structure visible without advising, scoring, or judgement.
Examine a target
The system
What Upstream examines
Upstream does not score, advise, or judge targets. It examines their structure before numbers are attached to them.
Intent
Control
Mechanism
Evidence
Expectation
Worked example
See a target examined
Below is a real target passed through Upstream. No advice is given. No score is applied. Only the structure is examined and summarised.
Example: Unsupported target
“Improve overall employee engagement across the organisation within the next 12 months.”
Structural summary
The target expresses intent but lacks a defined mechanism within the control of the owner. Evidence is not specified, making expectation difficult to verify without interpretation.
Example: Structured target
“Increase customer retention from 78% to 85% by the financial year end through quarterly account reviews and service response improvements.”
Structural summary
The target demonstrates clear intent and defines mechanisms largely within the control of the owner. Evidence and expectation are explicit, allowing progress to be assessed without interpretation. Minor ambiguity remains around ownership of delivery.