Theory of operation
Encyclopedia
A theory of operation is a description of how a device
Tool
A tool is a device that can be used to produce an item or achieve a task, but that is not consumed in the process. Informally the word is also used to describe a procedure or process with a specific purpose. Tools that are used in particular fields or activities may have different designations such...

 or system
System
System is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole....

 should work. It is often included in documentation
Documentation
Documentation is a term used in several different ways. Generally, documentation refers to the process of providing evidence.Modules of Documentation are Helpful...

, especially maintenance/service
Maintenance, Repair and Operations
Maintenance, repair, and operations or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involves fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it become out of order or broken...

 documentation, or a user manual. It aids troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem so that it can be solved, and so the product or process can be made operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to develop and...

 by providing the troubleshooter with a mental model
Mental model
A mental model is an explanation of someone's thought process about how something works in the real world. It is a representation of the surrounding world, the relationships between its various parts and a person's intuitive perception about his or her own acts and their consequences...

 of how the system is supposed to work. The troubleshooter can then more easily identify discrepancies, to aid diagnosis
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of anything. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines with variations in the use of logics, analytics, and experience to determine the cause and effect relationships...

of problem.

IBM Redbooks are "Theories of operation" of their products.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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