Workflow Best Practices

Optimize your CCW workflows for maximum efficiency and quality.

Specification Phase

DO

• Start with clear objectives: Define success criteria upfront
• Involve stakeholders: Gather requirements from all stakeholders
• Document assumptions: Make implicit knowledge explicit
• Identify risks early: Assess technical and project risks

DON'T

• Skip research phase
• Assume requirements without validation
• Ignore technical constraints
• Over-engineer solutions

Planning Phase

DO

• Break down tasks: Granular tasks are easier to estimate
• Map dependencies: Identify task relationships early
• Estimate realistically: Use historical data for estimates
• Plan for iteration: Include buffer for unknowns

DON'T

• Create monolithic tasks
• Ignore task dependencies
• Underestimate complexity
• Plan everything upfront

Implementation Phase

DO

• Follow the plan: Trust the planning process
• Test as you go: Write tests alongside code
• Document changes: Keep documentation in sync
• Validate frequently: Run tests after each change

DON'T

• Deviate from the plan without discussion
• Skip testing for speed
• Defer documentation
• Ignore feedback

Validation Phase

DO

• Test comprehensively: Cover happy paths and edge cases
• Review code: Use code review guidelines
• Measure quality: Use automated metrics
• Document findings: Create test reports

DON'T

• Skip edge case testing
• Ignore review feedback
• Rely on manual testing only
• Hide test failures

Team Coordination

Communication

• Use SendMessage: Always communicate through coordinator
• Be specific: Clear messages reduce back-and-forth
• Report progress: Update status regularly
• Escalate blockers: Don't wait on blockers

Collaboration

• Respect boundaries: Each role has specific responsibilities
• Trust the process: The workflow ensures quality
• Share knowledge: Contribute to wisdom files
• Learn from failures: Post-mortems improve future workflows

Common Pitfalls

Specification

Pitfall	Impact	Prevention
Vague requirements	Rework	Use acceptance criteria
Missing constraints	Failed implementation	List NFRs explicitly
Unclear scope	Scope creep	Define in/out scope

Planning

Pitfall	Impact	Prevention
Optimistic estimates	Delays	Use cone of uncertainty
Unknown dependencies	Blocked tasks	Explore codebase first
Single-threaded planning	Bottlenecks	Identify parallel opportunities

Implementation

Pitfall	Impact	Prevention
Skipping tests	Bugs in production	Test-first approach
Ignoring feedback	Rejected PRs	Address review comments
Gold plating	Delayed delivery	Follow requirements

Workflow Optimization

Reduce Cycle Time

1. Batch similar tasks: Reduce context switching
2. Automate validation: Continuous integration
3. Parallel execution: Identify independent tasks
4. Fast-advance: Skip coordinator for simple successions

Improve Quality

1. Early validation: Test-first development
2. Peer review: Multiple reviewer perspectives
3. Automated testing: Comprehensive test coverage
4. Metrics tracking: Measure quality indicators

Scale Effectively

1. Epic decomposition: Large projects → epics → tasks
2. Team specialization: Role-based agent assignment
3. Knowledge sharing: Wisdom accumulation
4. Process refinement: Continuous improvement

Examples

Good Workflow

[Specification]
  ↓ Clear requirements with acceptance criteria
[Planning]
  ↓ Realistic estimates with identified dependencies
[Implementation]
  ↓ Tests pass, documentation updated
[Validation]
  ↓ All acceptance criteria met
[Complete]

Problematic Workflow

[Specification]
  ↓ Vague requirements, no acceptance criteria
[Planning]
  ↓ Optimistic estimates, missed dependencies
[Implementation]
  ↓ No tests, incomplete documentation
[Validation]
  ↓ Failed tests, missing requirements
[Rework]

See Also

• 4-Level System - Detailed workflow explanation
• Agents - Agent capabilities