
\section{OPT-Aware Agent Skills}
\label{app:opt-agent-skills}

This appendix enumerates conceptual skills that may be incorporated into
agentic AI systems to support mechanism-aware planning, execution, diagnosis,
and repair using the Operational Premise Taxonomy (OPT). These skills are
descriptive rather than prescriptive; they define \emph{capabilities} that may
be implemented using a variety of agent architectures, programming languages,
or reasoning engines.

\subsection{OPT Classification Skill}

\textbf{Purpose.}
Identify the operative mechanisms present in a system description, source code,
tool invocation, or execution trace.

\textbf{Description.}
Given a representation of a system or subcomponent, the agent produces an
OPT--Code describing the dominant and supporting mechanisms. This skill enables
mechanism awareness and provides the foundation for subsequent reasoning.

\subsection{OPT--Intent Proposal Skill}

\textbf{Purpose.}
Generate an OPT--Intent declaration during design or planning.

\textbf{Description.}
Given a goal, constraints, and deployment context, the agent proposes a set of
intended operative mechanisms, anticipated risks, and constraints. This skill
supports disciplined planning and avoids unexamined default choices.

\subsection{OPT Alignment Evaluation Skill}

\textbf{Purpose.}
Assess consistency between OPT--Intent and OPT--Code.

\textbf{Description.}
The agent compares intended mechanisms against those actually employed,
identifying additions, omissions, or substitutions. Deviations are flagged as
mechanism drift and may trigger repair or escalation.

\subsection{Mechanism-Guided Error Diagnosis Skill}

\textbf{Purpose.}
Interpret errors in terms of underlying operative mechanisms.

\textbf{Description.}
Rather than diagnosing failures solely at the level of outputs, the agent
conditions its diagnosis on the OPT root(s) involved, narrowing the space of
plausible failure modes and repair strategies.

\subsection{Constraint-Preserving Repair Skill}

\textbf{Purpose.}
Propose repairs that respect declared mechanism constraints.

\textbf{Description.}
Given an error and an OPT--Intent declaration, the agent proposes corrective
actions that preserve or explicitly justify changes to the operative
mechanisms.

\subsection{OPT Memory and Traceability Skill}

\textbf{Purpose.}
Maintain a mechanism-aware record of decisions and outcomes.

\textbf{Description.}
The agent records OPT--Intent declarations, OPT--Code observations, alignment
checks, and repairs, supporting auditability and longitudinal analysis.

