Trigger

Triggers

Triggers initiate the Strategic Response Model by representing a change in context, observation, or external condition that warrants attention. Each Trigger may lead to one or more Rationales, each providing a specific justification for change. Triggers ensure that organisational decisions are not made in a vacuum, but are grounded in evidence or obligation. See: https://orthogramic.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/OM/pages/286228485

A trigger is defined as a catalyst event—internal or external—that compels an organisation to adapt. It is not a standalone structural element but a contextual stimulus that prompts changes to strategy, activates capabilities, or demands cross-functional coordination. Triggers may include legislative changes, customer demands, or performance breaches.

Trigger Taxonomy

Triggers in the Orthogramic Metamodel follow a standardized classification system that enables consistent categorization, improved searchability, and enhanced analytics. Each trigger is classified according to:

Primary Category: The main classification of the trigger (e.g., Regulatory, Technological, Strategic)
Subcategory: A more specific classification within the primary category
Origin: Whether the trigger is internal or external to the organization
Time Horizon: The temporal nature of the trigger (immediate, short-term, long-term)
Impact Level: The potential significance of the trigger (low, medium, high, critical)

This taxonomy provides a framework for organizing triggers consistently, allowing organizations to:

Track patterns in strategic responses across similar trigger types
Analyze the distribution of triggers by source, timeframe, and impact
Identify which categories of triggers most frequently drive strategic changes
Maintain a trigger registry that can be referenced across multiple strategic response models

The standardized taxonomy also supports governance and auditability by ensuring that triggers are documented according to consistent criteria, making it easier to trace decision-making patterns over time.

Linking to Rationales

Triggers can lead to multiple Rationales. Each Rationale references the originating trigger and justifies a different response path. This many-to-one structure allows a single trigger to influence several domains. See: Rationale

Example

See https://orthogramic.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/OM/pages/291242002 for reference cases.

Trigger JSON Schema

See: https://github.com/Orthogramic/Orthogramic_Metamodel

Schema properties

Property	Description	Type	Values (if enum)
`triggerID`	Unique identifier	UUID	—
`label`	Short name	String	—
`description`	Detailed explanation	String	—
`primaryCategory`	High-level trigger classification	Enum	See list (10 items)
`subCategory`	Subtype within the category	String	—
`origin`	Trigger source	Enum	Internal, External, Hybrid
`timeHorizon`	Timing relevance	Enum	Immediate, Short_Term, Medium_Term, Long_Term
`impactLevel`	Severity or magnitude	Enum	Low, Medium, High, Critical
`status`	Lifecycle status	Enum	Emerging, Ongoing, Declining, Resolved
`detectionDate`	When identified	Date	ISO 8601
`validUntil`	When no longer relevant	Date	ISO 8601
`sourceReference`	External supporting reference	String	—
`relatedTriggers`	References to related triggers	Array	UUIDs
`strategicResponseReferences`	Responses influenced by this trigger	Array	UUIDs

This schema allows organizations to systematically capture and manage triggers that necessitate strategic responses, ensuring traceability and alignment across the enterprise architecture.