# Agent or workflow: make the simpler choice first

Original 5HO practice material. Fictional example. Reviewed 5 October 2026.

## Useful result

You'll finish with a justified choice between a workflow and an agent.

Use a fixed workflow when you know the steps. Consider an agent when the next action genuinely depends on what it finds. Neither is improved by adding autonomy purely because it sounds more advanced.

## Set up

Allow 15 minutes. Describe one task and its exceptions on paper or in a chat. You do not need to build or connect anything to make this decision.

## Practice input

Task A: copy a validated total into a weekly report. Task B: investigate why three totals disagree across differently structured documents. Both outputs need review before sharing.

## Do the task

1. Write the normal steps and likely exceptions for each task.
2. Ask which decisions are fixed and which require judgement or investigation.
3. Choose a manual test before implementing the recommended approach.

## Prompt

Compare a fixed workflow and an agent for tasks A and B. State required inputs, branching decisions, review effort and failure recovery. Include the option of a simple script without AI.

## Refine

Prefer the least complex option that satisfies the task. Identify what evidence would justify upgrading task A to an agent.

## Expected checks

A fixed transfer can suit task A; B may benefit from tool-assisted investigation. An agent is still constrained by available tools and evidence, and does not remove the final review.

## Save

Save the decision with the exception that would trigger a rethink. Build only the chosen small test.

## Sources

- Model Context Protocol overview: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/2026-07-28/getting-started/intro