On the structure of modules indexed by small categories

Abstract: Given a small category C, a C-module M is a functor from C to the category of finite-dimensional vector spaces over a field k. Associated to M is its local structure, given as a functor from C to the category of bi-closed multi-flags over k. When the local structure of M is stable (a condition satisfied whenever both the category C and the field k are finite), it determines a quasi-tame cover QTC(M) (a finite direct sum of quasi-blocks), indexed by the same category, for which the associated graded local structure is canonically isomorphic to that of M. QTC(M) represents the closest approximation to M by a quasi-tame module, and recovers M precisely when M itself is quasi-tame. In the case M has stable local structure and is equipped with an inner product compatible with that structure, there exists a C-module surjection QTC(M) -> M inducing the above-mentioned isomorphism on associated graded local structures. This map is an isomorphism iff the excess of M vanishes (where the excess numerically measures the failure of the local structure of M to be in general position).