Operatize

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To make something ready and effective for use or operation
2. To adapt or modify a system or process so it can work properly
3. To put into action or configure so it functions as intended

Etymology: "Operationalize" is a 20th-century formation that English built from "operation," which itself comes from Latin "operatio," from "operari," "to work." Its specific sense is more recent and more technical than the general idea of working. The word appears in the early 1900s in scientific and philosophical writing, most famously in the context of physics, where Percy Bridgman's 1927 book "The Logic of Modern Physics" argued that a concept should be defined by the set of operations used to measure it. That principle, called operationalism, is the direct ancestor of the verb. The verb then broadened. Social scientists adopted it in the mid-20th century to mean turning an abstract idea, such as "intelligence" or "satisfaction," into a measurable procedure. From there it spread into business and government, where it now usually means putting a plan, policy, or system into practical effect.

Synonyms: implement, execute