Architecture
Two complementary systems sharing one capability framework. The assessment engine produces structured data. The coordination system acts on it.
How it fits together
Most capability platforms try to do everything in one monolithic system and end up doing nothing well. We separated the concerns deliberately: Nerva handles measurement, Meridian handles coordination. They share the 48-cell framework as a common data model, but each system is optimised for its specific job.
System layers
Assessment Layer — Nerva
Adaptive questioning engine that maps individual and team capability across 48 cells. Generates structured data, not opinion scores.
Coordination Layer — Meridian
Workflow and program management system. Takes Nerva's capability data and turns it into actionable development pathways across teams and organisations.
Framework Layer — 48-Cell Model
Four dimensions, three domains, four maturity modes per cell. The shared ontology that gives both systems a common language for capability.
Design principles
Enable, don't replace
The platform supports practitioners. It doesn't pretend to be one.
Transparent by default
Every score, workflow step, and recommendation is traceable and auditable.
Research-grounded
105+ research claims underpin the framework. Not vibes. Not best practice folklore.
The 48-cell framework isn't a product differentiator we invented for marketing. It's a research-backed ontology for describing organisational capability — four dimensions (strategy, culture, technical, governance) across three domains, with four maturity modes per cell. Both Nerva and Meridian operate on this shared structure, which means assessment data flows directly into development planning without translation loss.