About
Why Upstream exists
Upstream exists to make the structure behind targets visible before numbers carry weight.
It creates a pause — a moment to examine intent, control, mechanism, evidence, and expectation — before a number is allowed to influence decisions, behaviour, or accountability.
In many organisations, numbers gain authority quickly.
Intent is assumed.
Control is implied.
Mechanisms and evidence are taken on trust.
By the time those assumptions are challenged, the target already carries weight — shaping behaviour and accountability before the thinking behind it has been examined.
Upstream exists to intervene before that moment.
Upstream does not score, advise, or judge targets.
It does not optimise ambition or recommend action.
Instead, it requires that the structure behind a target is made explicit — what is intended, what is controlled, how it is meant to work, what evidence supports it, and what level of expectation is being set — before the number is allowed to influence decisions or accountability.
Upstream is a place to think clearly before committing.
When numbers matter, the thinking behind them should be visible.
Before numbers carry weight.