  The chemical short-range order (CSRO) in the crystalline materials influences
the properties and its effect is particularly important in the context of the
multicomponent materials. We propose a scheme for CSRO parameter or
$\mathrm{\Delta-}$parameter in terms of number of like and unlike bonds in the
multicomponent systems. The OPERA or $\bf{O}$rder $\bf{P}$arameter
$\bf{E}$ngineering for $\bf{RA}$ndom Systems scheme for both semi-canonical as
well as canonical ensemble is proposed. The proposed framework provides a
high-throughput scheme for exploration of the CSRO in terms of the
$\mathrm{\Delta-}$parameter. We demonstrate the applicability of the
$\mathrm{\Delta-}$parameter for describing the CSRO in multicomponent alloys
and oxides (FCC-CoCrNi, BCC-MoNbTaW and (CoCuMgNiZn)O). We show that the
$\mathrm{\Delta-}$parameter not only inherits the merit of Warren-Cowley order
parameter, but it also addresses its limitations. The
$\mathrm{\Delta-}$parameter being a scalar quantity can represent the chemical
order and OPERA framework can deal with both semi-canonical and canonical
ensemble
