Methodology

How the National Capability Framework is designed, structured and maintained — from taxonomy design principles to capability definitions and the iterative review process.

Design Principles

The framework is built on a set of core design principles that guide every structural and definitional decision:

• Comprehensive — capture the full spectrum of national capability across Hard, Soft and Economic dimensions
• Measurable — each capability should be amenable to quantitative or qualitative assessment
• Policy-neutral — describe capability without prescribing outcomes or ranking nations
• Open and iterative — evolve with the strategic landscape through community input and periodic review
• Mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive — minimise overlap between capabilities while covering the full domain

Taxonomy Structure

The framework follows a four-level hierarchy:

1. Dimensions — the three foundational categories of national power (Hard, Soft, Economic)
2. Domains — major strategic and policy areas within each dimension (9 total)
3. Capability Groups — thematic clusters of related capabilities within a domain
4. Capabilities — discrete, individually measurable units of national capability (250+)

Each level is assigned a unique hierarchical identifier (e.g. GINC-HPOW-CTEC-AINT) enabling precise referencing, data linkage and programmatic access.

Capability Definition Process

Each capability in the framework is defined through a structured process:

1. Identification — capabilities are sourced from academic literature, policy documents, existing indices and expert consultation
2. Scoping — each capability is given a clear headline definition and contextual description that bounds its meaning
3. Classification — capabilities are placed within the taxonomy hierarchy based on their primary dimension, domain and thematic grouping
4. Validation — definitions are reviewed for clarity, measurability and non-overlap with adjacent capabilities

Data and Indicators

While the framework itself is a taxonomy — not a dataset — it is designed to support quantitative assessment. Each capability is intended to be linked to one or more measurable indicators drawn from open data sources, national statistics, international indices and specialist databases.

Indicator mapping is an ongoing workstream. The 2026 edition includes expanded indicator coverage across emerging technology domains and revised economic capability metrics.

Review and Update Cycle

The framework is maintained through a periodic review process:

• Annual edition — a full review of capability definitions, groupings and domain structure
• Community contributions — corrections, additions and refinements are accepted on an ongoing basis through the GINC initiative
• Emerging domains — new capability areas are assessed and incorporated as the strategic landscape evolves

This page will be expanded with detailed methodological notes, worked examples and technical documentation as the initiative progresses. For questions or contributions, reach out through the GINC initiative.