GLOSSARY
The MGS vocabulary.
Mothusi and MGS use specific terms with specific meaning. This glossary defines the vocabulary so programme officers, funders, researchers, and operators can read the same record without translation overhead.
Cite by version. The full methodology spec is on the methodology page.
- FormingEarliest stage. Idea, registration, founders. Not yet trading in a sustained way.
- OperatingTrading consistently. Basic financial and operational discipline emerging.
- EstablishedRepeatable revenue, verified evidence, multiple buyers, audited financials.
- ScalingOperating discipline at scale. Expanding geography, products, or capital structure.
- InstitutionalAudited, governed, fundable at institutional scale. Reporting cadence operates without prompting.
- Evidence confidenceThe grade assigned to each signal. Five rungs: self-reported, AI checked, document verified, live data verified, third-party verified.
- Observed tierThe maturity stage Mothusi infers from operator behaviour and signal pattern.
- Verified tierThe maturity stage confirmed by evidence at the appropriate confidence level.
- Backfill packA targeted evidence pack for existing businesses to verify earlier foundations without being forced through beginner steps.
- Growth recordThe single longitudinal record per business. Captures every signal, every interaction, every artefact.
- LeverA specific dimension the framework measures against the operator's stage. Different at Forming than at Scaling.
- Discipline leverA lever measured by frequency over time (monthly financial rhythm, weekly cash review, quarterly compliance check).
- Capability leverA lever measured by capacity (audited financials, governance, multi-region operations).
- Lever weaknessA specific lever below the threshold for the operator's stage. Drives matched interventions.
- Issue clusterA grouping of related lever weaknesses that point to a common operational gap.
- Bankability GapCluster covering bank evidence, payment discipline, books quality, and commercial proof. Closes via Bankability Sprint and similar interventions.
- Market Proof GapCluster covering customer evidence, offtake history, commercial relationships, and buyer concentration.
- Compliance Freshness GapCluster covering tax filings, licence currency, BEE certification, sector-specific compliance documents.
- Team and Governance GapCluster covering team capability, governance structure, board composition, and decision discipline.
- Contextual interventionA programme, course, mentor session, or funding pathway matched to the operator's specific gaps and stage.
- Bankability SprintA structured intervention closing the Bankability Gap. Targets bank, payment, books, and commercial proof levers.
- Applied outputThe specific business artefact produced by a learning intervention (forecast, plan, checklist, register).
- Discipline signalEvidence that an applied output is being used on an ongoing basis, not filed and forgotten.
- Risk signalA forward-looking indicator: compliance freshness, cash buffer, commercial concentration, document expiry.
- Risk bandThe composite risk assessment for the operator, used by lenders and programme officers.
- Finance readinessThe composite signal that summarises the operator's readiness to engage with a specific capital pathway.
- "Not ready yet"A specific finding that the operator is not eligible for a funding pathway, with a prescribed path to readiness. A feature, not a failure.
GO DEEPER
Read the full methodology and references.
The glossary defines the vocabulary. The methodology document defines the framework rules. The references list documents the global frameworks Mothusi aligns with.
From business support to measurable enterprise development. Across sectors, countries, and real operating environments.