Frameworks
The Work Management Institute maintains and governs a growing portfolio of foundational frameworks that define, explain, and advance the Work Management discipline.
Each framework in this library is formally stewarded by WMI and serves as canonical reference material for education, certification, and research.
Foundational Frameworks
Work Management frameworks should apply regardless of whether work is performed by humans, AI agents, or hybrid teams.
C4 Flywheel™
The C4 Flywheel is WMI’s foundational execution model for work.
It explains how clarity, coordination, and completion—powered by collaboration—create sustained momentum from intent to value across human, AI, and hybrid teams.
The C4 Flywheel™ explains the conditions required for work to flow effectively—and why strengthening those conditions compounds over time to create sustained momentum.
When work enters an organization, teams must first achieve clarity on what needs to be done and why it matters. They must then coordinate who is responsible for what and by when. Finally, work must be completed in a way that delivers real value. The C4 Flywheel™ models these conditions as a reinforcing system rather than a linear process.
As clarity, coordination, and completion improve, work flows more smoothly, predictably, and sustainably—reducing friction while increasing momentum across teams.
Common use cases:
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Diagnosing why work is stalling or slowing
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Improving flow without redesigning processes
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Reducing friction across teams and dependencies
Coordination Stack
A Foundational Framework for How Work Is Coordinated
The Coordination Stack™ is a system-level work management framework developed by the Work Management Institute (WMI). It defines the five essential questions that must be answered for people, teams, or AI agents to reliably coordinate work.
Rather than prescribing tools, processes, or methodologies, the Coordination Stack provides a universal coordination model that applies across roles, organizations, industries, and technologies.
Work Value Pyramid
A value model for evaluating work
The Work Value Pyramid™ explains how value is created through work by distinguishing between activities, progress, and outcomes.
It helps individuals and organizations move beyond busyness by making value explicit—enabling better prioritization, clearer decision-making, and more meaningful execution.
By orienting work toward outcomes rather than activity alone, the framework supports more intentional planning, execution, and evaluation of work.
Common use cases:
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Prioritizing work based on value
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Aligning effort to outcomes
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Reducing low-impact activity
The IDEAS Workflow Ownership Model
The IDEAS Workflow Ownership Model is a foundational Work Management framework that defines five ownership domains across the lifecycle of work—Intent, Design, Execution, Alignment, and Signal—to ensure that work flows from purpose to impact with engineered systems, coordinated execution, and continuous learning.
The IDEAS Workflow Ownership Model is a foundational framework in the discipline of Work Management that defines how accountability is assigned across the lifecycle of work.
The Asynchronous Communication Maturity Model
The WMI Asynchronous Communication Maturity Model™ is a structured framework that defines how organizations progress in their ability to use time‑independent communication systems to coordinate, decide, and execute work at scale.
In the Work Management discipline, asynchronous communication is treated as a primary carrier of coordination, enabling organizations to scale across time zones, organizational boundaries, and digital systems while preserving institutional knowledge and accountability.
The Coordination Maturity Model
The WMI Coordination Maturity Model™ is a structured framework that describes how organizations progress in their ability to systematically structure, sequence, and govern work across people, time, and systems.
In the Work Management discipline, coordination maturity represents the underlying organizational capability to align responsibility, sequencing, dependencies, and execution pathways in a predictable and scalable manner. It is considered a foundational capability for organizational performance, resilience, and scalability.
Workflow Maturity Model
The WMI Workflow Maturity Model™ explains how organizations develop the capability to design, execute, and improve workflows as intentional systems of work. It focuses on the quality of workflow design and flow—how work moves from initiation to completion—rather than tools, methodologies, or individual tasks.
Framework Stewardship
All frameworks published by the Work Management Institute are:
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Formally governed and maintained by WMI
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Aligned with the Work Management Body of Knowledge (WMBOK™)
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Referenced within WMI certifications, including CAWM™ and WMP™
Frameworks may evolve over time as the discipline matures. WMI is responsible for versioning, interpretation, and educational use to ensure consistency, integrity, and long-term relevance.
Usage and Citation
WMI frameworks may be referenced for educational and explanatory purposes with appropriate attribution.
For commercial use, certification alignment, or derivative frameworks, authorization from the Work Management Institute is required.
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