The short answer
Clear rules with few exceptions often suit a fixed workflow first. Open-ended tasks need a reason to justify autonomous decisions and extra cost.
Try it in three steps
- Map the task as input, steps and output.
- Mark branches that need judgment.
- Fix the predictable parts and route exceptions to a person.
A practice prompt
Before you start
This is a design exercise, not an agent run.
Practice material (fictional)
A checks mandatory columns using fixed rules. B investigates three approaches and may need additional sources.Replace placeholders in the prompt with this material, or append the material if there are no placeholders. Reading time excludes doing the exercise.
Map required-field checking, duplicate detection and exception reporting as a workflow. Identify judgment points without assuming multiple agents.What to look for (not a recorded test result)
A suits a fixed workflow first. B may benefit from dynamic next-step selection; neither automatically needs multiple agents.
If it goes wrong
If the model invents calculation rules each run, document the rules before automation.
Check your result
Your choice explains whether autonomous judgment is necessary.
References and scope
The links below support the concepts or product navigation. The steps and exercises are our teaching suggestions, not official certification or measured customer outcomes. Product interfaces and availability may change. References checked on 2026-10-17.