I'm discussing a project where tasks require someone to review a list of items and mark an action associated with each one. When writing the project task lists I'm trying to say, "Note the associated action item with each item on this list", but that seems unnecessarily verbose. I'm hoping someone can recommend a single word that means "note associated action".
After looking at words like "annotate" and "instantiate" I'd like to say something similar to "Actionate this list". Is there a single verb I could use without making something up?
Best Answer
The term operationalize is used for the general sense of taking something "fuzzy" (conceptual) and defining it in operational terms (how will you know it when you see it? How do you expect it to be accomplished?).
You have a list of tasks that sound like generic descriptions for pieces of the project. Associating them with specific actions defines them operationally -- exactly what is meant by the task, the scope of what is entailed, what action will accomplish the task, how you will determine that it has been completed.
"Operationalize" is used in a variety of specialties, and the definition in each specialty is slightly different, but the basic meaning is essentially the same. See for example Oxford Dictionary, #2, or this discussion in Explorable.com.