Integrity as a System Property (concept)
A reference definition explaining integrity as an emergent property of system design rather than individual behaviour.
Institute for Systems Integrity (ISI)
Integrity does not reside in individuals alone. It emerges from systems.
Why good people make bad decisions
Decision outcomes are shaped by:
- Incentives
- Information quality
- Authority gradients
- Feedback loops
When these are misaligned, even principled actors will make unsafe choices.
System properties that shape integrity
Integrity emerges when systems:
- Surface weak signals early
- Protect dissent
- Balance speed with review
- Align rewards with long-term outcomes
Remove these, and integrity degrades predictably.
From blame to design
Focusing on individual failure obscures system causes. Integrity failures are rarely fixed by training or values statements alone.
They require governance redesign.
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