The quick read
- Write down what happens when an input is missing, a tool fails or the model selects an unhelpful action.
- Use predefined steps for repeatable transformations and approvals.
Map the decisions
A fixed workflow defines its stages in advance. An agent can choose actions or paths within an environment. Anthropic’s engineering guidance distinguishes these patterns and recommends starting with the simplest architecture that fits the task. Flexibility adds value only when the task genuinely needs it.
Compare failure handling
Write down what happens when an input is missing, a tool fails or the model selects an unhelpful action. A fixed flow is easier to inspect when steps are predictable. An agent needs budgets, stop conditions, permission boundaries and a record of what it tried.
Allow bounded freedom
Use predefined steps for repeatable transformations and approvals. Consider an agent for exploration where the next useful action depends on what it discovers. Keep consequential actions behind explicit controls and test whether the added decision-making actually reduces the user’s work.
Sources & notes
An editorial decision framework, not a scored benchmark or hands-on test.
anthropic.com — official reference
Sources reviewed for the September 2026 launch edition.