Pattern
Operational truth
Trace an operational claim to independent evidence and distinguish intended, reported, recorded, inferred, observed, and verified state. The output is a queryable evidence chain and the gap between reported and observed state. A complete record can still be false, and Operational Truth™ does not prove causality.
Inputs
A material operational claim, source systems, events, timestamps, actors, derived records, and known conflicts.
Method
Trace claim, derived evidence, source event, source system, actor or device, and time. Record authority, freshness, conflict rules, and missing events.
Output
A queryable evidence chain and the gap between reported and observed state.
Boundary
A complete record can still be false. Operational Truth™ does not prove causality.
Stop
Stop delegation when the state needed for safe action cannot be established economically.