Once you have initially created the service interface, you define its functionality by creating a series of operations. Generally, an operation represents an interaction with a single program entry point, screen or commarea. In the Interface Mapper you work with one operation at a time. A single service interface typically contains multiple operations.
For COBOL program-based service interfaces, the operations are packaged together in one service, but each operation is independently executable (i.e., only one operation is invoked per service execution). In contrast, for all CICS/IMS-based service interfaces, a service driver program is generated that typically performs multiple operations within a single service execution. For example, you could define one operation for each screen that might be encountered during the execution of the service, or one for each commarea program invoked.