A universal system for how work gets done
Operator 10:
Prepare Inputs
Prepare Inputs represents the act of gathering, validating, or organizing the materials, data, or resources that will be consumed, transformed, or altered during a step. Inputs are the substance of the work itself, becoming part of the output or driving the transformation. Prepare Inputs ensures that required materials or information are complete, accurate, and ready before execution begins. Without clearly defining Prepare Inputs, downstream steps can fail, stall, or produce incorrect results due to missing, flawed, or unprepared consumable resources.
Plain-English Definition
Prepare Inputs represents the act of making required materials, data, or conditions ready before execution can occur. It isolates prerequisite preparation from execution itself.
What Prepare Inputs Does
Prepare Inputs makes prerequisites explicit. It ensures that downstream steps are not burdened with hidden setup assumptions.
What Prepare Inputs Is Not
Prepare Inputs is not execution (Action). It is not readiness without preparation (Standby). It is not transformation of inputs during execution (Process).
Core Characteristics
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Inputs are gathered, staged, or conditioned
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Preparation is complete before execution begins
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Execution depends on successful preparation
Examples Across Contexts
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Directed (designed process): Collecting required data before analysis begins
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Observed (descriptive): Teams assemble materials prior to starting work
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Natural phenomena: Environmental conditions accumulate before a reaction occurs
How Prepare Inputs Works with Other Operators
Prepare Inputs typically precedes Action or Process. If preparation continues without readiness, Standby may follow.
Common Mistakes
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Hiding preparation inside execution steps
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Treating readiness as preparation
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Omitting prerequisite dependencies
Key Questions to Identify Prepare Inputs
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Are required inputs explicitly prepared?
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Would execution fail without this step?
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Is preparation distinct from execution
Things to Remember
If inputs must be made ready first, that preparation deserves its own step.
Canonical Definition
Prepare Inputs isolates prerequisite preparation from execution.