Skip to content
Back to Glossary

Maturity model

The Seven Ages

Source: Paper 003v1.0 ยท July 2026

The stages through which organisations evolve, in sequence, on evidence: One, Hero (knowledge lives inside people); Two, Process (knowledge becomes repeatable); Three, System (processes become software); Four, Connected (systems integrate); Five, Knowledge (data becomes institutional memory); Six, Intelligent (knowledge reasons); Seven, Autonomous (routine decisions execute safely inside governed boundaries; judgement stays human).

How to cite

Ben Hortop, "The Seven Ages," The Institutional Intelligence Framework, Paper 003, v1.0, July 2026, institutional-intelligence.com/glossary/the-seven-ages