Mertens, Robin Edgard Ulrik: The Translation Trap: A Governance System for Strategic Drift and Institutional Alignment

How do formal representations displace institutional intent? This paper examines how institutions can appear aligned and high-performing while drifting from their stated purpose. It argues that this condition arises because intent does not enter decision-making directly: to guide action, it must be translated into criteria, metrics, and allocation rules. In this process, what begins as a representation of intent can come to replace it. The paper identifies the Double Translation Trap: a conditio