interoperation

Interoperation refers to the ability of different systems, organizations, or components to exchange information and to act on that information in a way that enables joint tasks across organizational boundaries. It is often used interchangeably with interoperability, though some distinctions exist: interoperation is the act and process of making systems work together, while interoperability is the property that a system can do so. In practice, achieving interoperation relies on common standards, compatible data formats, shared protocols, and governance that align policies, security, and privacy requirements.

Key elements include technical interfaces (APIs, web services, messaging), semantic consistency (shared data models and vocabularies), and operational procedures (accountability, versioning, and lifecycle management). Approaches include adopting open standards, building adapters or translation layers, and employing middleware or service-oriented architectures to connect legacy and modern components. Data mapping and validation, identity and access management, and auditing are also important.

Interoperation spans many domains, including information technology, healthcare, finance, transportation, and government. Examples include healthcare data exchange using FHIR, financial messaging using ISO 20022, and cross-border e-government initiatives. The benefits include improved information reuse, more efficient processes, faster integration of new services, and broader collaboration across organizations. Challenges include inconsistent or incomplete standards, semantic misalignments, security and privacy concerns, regulatory constraints, and the costs of maintaining interoperable connections.