---
title: "For the operator: your first steps"
description: "The first decisions to make as the person who runs OCTOPUS: a workflow, a rule, a team, an owner, and who may switch it off."
url: "https://docs.octo.ad/guides/operator-first-week/"
id: "guides/operator-first-week"
type: "task"
audience: "operator"
dateModified: "2026-11-06"
keywords: ["operator", "first steps"]
---

# For the operator: your first steps

> The first decisions to make as the person who runs OCTOPUS: a workflow, a rule, a team, an owner, and who may switch it off.

## Before you start

Read [What OCTOPUS is](/start/what-octopus-is/) and the [fit criteria](/start/is-it-a-fit/).

## Steps

1. Pick one workflow where the same kinds of decisions come up again and again. Describe it plainly, with no member, customer or case identifiers, and ask for the fit check.
2. Choose one recurring business rule for the one-rule check. Send it with up to three documents you choose. Result: You get back each conflicting answer those documents give, side by side, with the sentence it came from.
3. Pick one team for its own copy. Give IT the one-page review sheet for the one scoped connection.
4. Name the decision owner. The decisions that matter go to that person on the Desk.
5. Name who may switch automation off. On the first steps that is the decision owner and IT.

## What you have at the end

One workflow checked for fit, one rule's conflicting answers laid side by side, one team ready, and named people for decisions and for the off switch.

## Next

Next: [agree rules for repeat decisions](/decision-ladder/agree-a-rule/).