Principle 3:
The 15 Operators Are the Complete Grammar of
OneRoute

Plain-English Summary

OneRoute works because it uses a fixed set of 15 operators. Each operator represents a distinct type of step. Together, these operators form a complete grammar for describing how anything unfolds—no additional step types are required.

 

What this Principle Means

​The operators are not examples or suggestions. They are the full vocabulary of OneRoute. Every step must map to exactly one operator, and every real step can be mapped to one of them.

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​The Operator Grammar (Conceptual Groups)

Preparation:

• Operators

  • Prepare Inputs

  • Prepare Tools

• What they represent: Conditions required before progression

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Execution:

• Operators

  • Action

  • Combined Action

• What they represent: Active intervention that changes state

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Passive States:

• Operators

  • Standby

  • Wait

  • Process

• What they represent: Time, readiness, or transformation without intervention

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Sensing & Triggers:

• Operators

  • Observe

  • Cue

• What they represent: Detection and event-based progression

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Choice & Variation:

• Operators

  • Decision

  • Option

  • Repeat

• What they represent: Branching, alternates, and loops

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Structure & Reuse:

• Operators

  • Bridge Start

  • Bridge Return

• What they represent: Reusable sub-sequences

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Closure:

• Operators

  • Conclude

• What they represent: Defined end state

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Why the Grammar Is Closed

A closed grammar prevents ambiguity. If new step types are allowed arbitrarily, comparison, diagnosis, and reuse break down. By fixing the operator set, OneRoute ensures consistency across domains and use cases.

 

Concrete Examples
Process planning: A vague step like “handle request” must be decomposed into known operators (Observe, Decision, Action, Wait, Conclude).

Process understanding: Informal workarounds are captured as Option or Repeat, not free-text explanations.

Natural phenomena: Seasonal cycles map cleanly to Repeat; thresholds map to Cue; stabilization maps to Standby or Conclude.

 

Mini Case: When a Step Has No Operator

A team insists a step is “just coordination.” When forced to choose an operator, they discover it includes Observe, Decision, Action, and Wait. The issue was not execution—it was an undefined step.

 

How to Apply This Principle

1. Write the step in plain language.

2. Ask what type of transition occurs.

3. Select the single operator that matches that transition.

4. If none fit, split the step until one does.

5. Repeat until every step has exactly one operator.

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Common Misunderstandings

• Treating operators as optional labels

• Inventing new operator types

• Using prose instead of structure to explain steps

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Quick Diagnostic Questions

• Which operator best describes what changes here?

• Is this step actually multiple operators combined?

• Would another analyst choose the same operator?

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If You Only Remember One Thing

The 15 operators are sufficient to describe any sequence—if they don’t fit, the step isn’t clear yet.

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Canonical Statement

The 15 operators form the complete grammar of OneRoute.

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