Task Orchestration
How agents break work into steps
TL;DR
How agents break work into steps
> Overview
Agents do not solve complex problems in one shot. They decompose them into a sequence of smaller steps, like a project plan. This module teaches PMs how to think about step decomposition, how each step adds latency and cost, and how to design workflows that balance thoroughness with speed. Understanding orchestration is essential for writing realistic PRDs for any agentic feature.
> Why This Matters for Your Product
Every extra step in an agent's chain adds latency and cost. A 3-step chain might take 5 seconds and cost $0.01. A 10-step chain might take 30 seconds and cost $0.05. Your UX must account for this. You also decide where to add validation checkpoints where the agent verifies its work before moving on. This directly shapes the user experience.
> Interactive & tools
Example agent chain
Anatomy of an agent chain (example: support agent)
Latency calculator
Latency calculator
Total expected response time: 10s
UX threshold: medium (2s instant, 5s ok, 15s+ risk drop-off)
Fixed vs. dynamic
Fixed vs. dynamic orchestration
Fixed orchestration
- •Predetermined sequence every time
- •Simple, predictable, easy to debug
- •Good for well-understood workflows
Best for: Stable, repeatable workflows
Dynamic orchestration
- •Agent decides steps based on input
- •Flexible, handles edge cases
- •Harder to predict cost and latency
Best for: Variable or exploratory tasks
Related Engineering Patterns
These are the technical patterns your engineering team will implement. Understanding them helps you have better conversations.
Key Product Decisions
- [01]How many steps can your UX tolerate before users drop off?
- [02]Which steps need deterministic validation (hard checks) vs. AI judgment?
- [03]Should the agent plan its own steps dynamically, or follow a fixed workflow?
- [04]What happens when a step fails mid-chain: retry, skip, or escalate?
Ask Your Engineering Team
- →What is the expected latency per step in our chain?
- →Can we show progressive results as each step completes?
- →Where should we add validation gates between steps?
- →Do we need dynamic planning or is a fixed pipeline sufficient?
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