Operational Definitions

Status: Working draft

Purpose

Operational definitions support consistent artifact characterization and classification.

These definitions are working rules for FE-008, not final doctrine.

FEMS-1 is the current measurement standard for applying these definitions.

Identity answers: What is this?

Capabilities answer: What can it do?

Composition answers: How does it work?

Domain answers: Where is it applied?

Artifact Types

Framework

Primary signal: Guides reasoning through reusable concepts, relationships, boundaries, and outputs.

Model

Primary signal: Represents some aspect of reality through abstraction.

Methodology

Primary signal: Describes how work should be performed in repeatable practice.

Process

Primary signal: Prescribes a sequence or flow of activity.

Taxonomy

Primary signal: Organizes things into categories.

Ontology

Primary signal: Defines concepts and their relationships as semantic structure.

Standard

Primary signal: Establishes requirements, conformance rules, or consistency constraints.

Notation

Primary signal: Represents information through syntax, symbols, or diagrammatic conventions.

Pattern

Primary signal: Captures a recurring successful solution or design move.

Reference Architecture

Primary signal: Provides reusable structural guidance for implementation.

Tool

Primary signal: Performs work or assists execution directly.

Boundary Rules

• If execution capability is primary, treat the artifact first as a tool.
• If conformance or requirement-setting is primary, treat it first as a standard.
• If syntax or diagramming dominates meaning, treat it first as a notation.
• If category structure dominates, treat it first as a taxonomy.
• If semantic relationship definition dominates, treat it first as an ontology.
• If representation of reality dominates, treat it first as a model or reference architecture.
• If ordered practice dominates, treat it first as a methodology or process.
• If reusable reasoning structure dominates, framework classification becomes appropriate.
• If the artifact mainly captures a recurring solution, pattern classification becomes appropriate.

Classification Notes

• Identity should be determined by dominant purpose.
• Identity should contain exactly one value.
• Capabilities may overlap across identities.
• Ambiguous artifacts should remain provisional.
• Framework grammar should be recorded only when framework characteristics are present.
• Primitive composition should be recorded only when reasoning structure exists.