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Framework

Source 108

What is Source 108?

Source 108 is Eudaimonia Universe's structured framework for understanding human values and the motivations that shape behavior and decision-making. It organizes the sources of human values into 108 types.

Developed by: Eudaimonia Universe Author: Takayuki Mizuno (Founder & CEO) Page published: 2026-07-30 Last reviewed: 2026-07-30
Executive Summary

Overview

"We value our people's values" stays a slogan until there is a vocabulary for talking about values. Source 108 is a catalog for articulating what a person holds important and what moves them. For an individual it works as a map of intrinsic motivation; for an organization it becomes the basis for connecting each person's motivation to their role.

The organizational problem it addresses

Much of the failure of engagement initiatives comes from acting before individual motivation has been articulated. A shared vocabulary of motivation is the starting point for dialogue and role design.

Background & Method

Development background and method

Source 108 is a catalog of value sources developed and revised through the operation of our products Source and Omusubi Quest. Expressions of motivation that appear in dialogue and assessment are collected, organized into types, and tested through application in the products. The theory is version-controlled in a single repository, and every product references the same definitions.

Evidence status

Source 108 is a proprietary framework developed by Eudaimonia Universe through practice. It is currently being evaluated and revised, and is not presented as peer-reviewed, empirically validated research. It is not presented as a replacement for established values research in psychology; it is a working vocabulary for practical dialogue and diagnosis.

Application

Organizational application

  • Diagnosing meaningful work: locating where individual values and organizational purpose connect, and where they break (Engagement and Meaningful Work).
  • Designing dialogue: a shared vocabulary for talking about motivation in one-on-ones and team dialogue.
  • Products: Source and Omusubi Quest use it to help individuals articulate their values.

Limitations

The 108 types are not a claim of completeness; they are a vocabulary that starts a conversation. The types are scaffolding for drawing out a person's own words, not instruments for labeling people. How the types express themselves across cultures is still being examined.

Cite & Related

Citation and related pages

Suggested citation: Eudaimonia Universe, "Source 108: a structured framework for values and motivation," https://eudaimoniauniverse.com/en/research/source-108/ (updated 2026-07-30).

Related services: Engagement and Meaningful Work | Related research: Human OSIkigai Management

Use Source 108 in your organization

We take enquiries about applying Source 108 in engagement diagnosis and about joint research.