Structural–Dynamic Decoupling as an Early Warning Mechanism in Organizational Systems: A CRTI-Based Observational Framework

This preprint introduces Structural–Dynamic Decoupling (SDD) as a proposed mechanism of organizational failure, extending the Compression–Response Transition Index (CRTI) into an observational diagnostic framework. While classical early warning signals (EWS), such as rising variance, increased lag-1 autocorrelation (AR(1)), and critical slowing down (CSD), rely on statistical properties of time-series data, many organizational systems exhibit instability through a qualitatively different pathway: a silent loss of responsiveness under conditions of maintained or even reinforced structural coherence. The framework defines four observable dimensions—structural coherence (Φ), response capability (R), narrative consistency (N), and field stability (M)—and formalizes the diagnostic relation T = R / Φ. Structural–Dynamic Decoupling is defined as the condition dΦ/dt ≥ 0 ∧ dR/dt < 0, implying a systematic decline in T preceding transition. CRTI is explicitly positioned as a complementary diagnostic layer, not a replacement for classical EWS methods. It is designed for hierarchical and institutionalized systems in data-sparse contexts, where quantitative time-series approaches are not feasible or reliable. A structured observational protocol is proposed, along with a detailed discussion of domain of validity, limitations, and open empirical questions. The framework is presented as a conceptual contribution intended to generate testable hypotheses and to support real-time diagnostic reasoning in complex organizational environments. CRTI, structural dynamic decoupling, early warning signals, complex systems,organizational systems, system collapse, resilience, critical transitions,observational diagnostics, socio-technical systems, qualitative methods