Independence Charter
Independence exists so the Register and Instruments can be relied on in board and audit contexts. Independence is about editorial control, not "neutrality".
Role & Boundaries
Reality & Reason Is
- Publisher of definitions and governance instruments
- Commissioner of briefings and editorial research
Reality & Reason Is Not
- Implementation services provider
- Software vendor or systems integrator
- Training provider or consultancy
Funding & Exclusions
Permitted Revenue
- Instrument licensing
- Commissioned briefings and editorial research (with published independence terms)
- Speaking fees
Prohibited Revenue
- Vendor sponsorship tied to influence
- Paid endorsements
- Affiliate revenue
- Advertising
- "Research partnerships" conferring approval rights
Editorial Control & Non-Interference
Editorial control resides solely with the Founder. No external party has approval rights over definitions, boundaries, naming conventions, or version changes.
The purchase of a licence does not confer influence over the content of the instruments.
Conflicts of Interest Policy
Definition
Vendor ties, equity holdings, advisory roles, paid positions, or close personal relationships relevant to our subject matter.
Handling
Conflicts are disclosed on this page. Conflicted individuals recuse themselves from relevant editorial decisions. Material conflicts are noted in edition changelogs.
Window
Policy covers current engagements and those within the past 24 months.
Commissioned Work Terms
Commissioned work can inform research output, but commissioning does not grant control.
While specific commissioned briefings may remain private to the client, the public Register and Instruments remain independent. If a commission materially informs a published change to a core instrument, that influence is disclosed in the changelog (without naming the client unless permitted).
Change Governance & Appeals
Update Triggers
Updates are structural and evidence-based. Commercial requests to soften language are explicitly non-triggers.
Corrections
Correction requests are acknowledged within 14 days, with a substantive response within 60 days.
Dispute Handling
Written response provided. No extended correspondence entered into unless new evidence is presented.
Transparency Commitments
- Public changelog with effective dates
- Permanent URLs for citation
- Archived versions remain accessible
- Clear edition pinning for audit
Independence Tests
Provenance Test
Would this change have happened if no one had asked for it?
Traceability Test
Does the changelog show what moved and why?
Veto Test
Can any paying party veto a definition, boundary, or instrument clause?
"Reality & Reason accepts money for access to instruments, not for influence over what the instruments say."