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Agent workflow design

Day 13 of 30 · Generative AI 2026: Build AI Apps and Agents

One-liner: Define a clear multi step agent workflow.
Time: 20 to 30 min
Deliverable: Agent Workflow Diagram and Steps

Learning goal

You will be able to: Design a multi step agent workflow that is easy to test.

Success criteria (observable)

  • The workflow has 3 to 6 steps.
  • Each step has a clear input and output.
  • A failure path is defined.

Output you will produce

  • Deliverable: Agent Workflow Diagram and Steps
  • Format: Diagram plus step list
  • Where saved: Course folder under /generative-ai-2026-build-ai-apps-and-agents/

Who

Primary persona: Digital nomad building an agent workflow Secondary persona(s): Users who depend on predictable results Stakeholders (optional): Collaborators

What

What it is

A clear sequence of steps an agent follows to produce an outcome. Each step has a defined input, action, and output.

What it is not

It is not a black box that tries to do everything in one step. It is not a replacement for product logic.

2-minute theory

  • Small steps are easier to test than one large step.
  • Defined inputs and outputs reduce errors.
  • Failure paths prevent user confusion.

Key terms

  • Workflow: A sequence of steps that leads to an outcome.
  • Failure path: A planned response when a step fails.

Where

Applies in

  • Agent pipelines
  • Task automation

Does not apply in

  • Simple single step prompts

Touchpoints

  • Workflow diagrams
  • Logs and traces
  • Output validation

When

Use it when

  • A task has multiple stages
  • You need predictable outputs

Frequency

Whenever you add a new agent feature

Late signals

  • Hard to debug failures
  • Users see partial results

Why it matters

Practical benefits

  • Easier testing
  • More stable output
  • Better user trust

Risks of ignoring

  • Random behavior
  • Hard to troubleshoot issues

Expectations

  • Improves: reliability and testability
  • Does not guarantee: perfect results

How

Step-by-step method

  1. Define the final outcome.
  2. Split the task into 3 to 6 steps.
  3. Define inputs and outputs for each step.
  4. Add a failure response for each step.

Do and don't

Do

  • Keep steps small and testable
  • Log outputs at each step

Don't

  • Combine unrelated tasks in one step
  • Skip failure handling

Common mistakes and fixes

  • Mistake: Too many steps. Fix: Merge or remove non essential steps.
  • Mistake: No failure path. Fix: Add a fallback response.

Done when

  • Steps are defined and sequenced.
  • Inputs and outputs are clear.
  • Failure paths are written.

Guided exercise (10 to 15 min)

Inputs

  • Your product promise
  • A target user task

Steps

  1. Write the final outcome.
  2. List 3 to 6 steps.
  3. Add inputs and outputs.

Output format

Field Value
Final outcome
Steps
Inputs and outputs
Failure paths

Pro tip: If a step is hard to test, split it into two.

Independent exercise (5 to 10 min)

Task

Remove one step and see if the outcome still holds.

Output

Updated workflow steps and notes.

Self-check (yes/no)

  • Are steps short and testable?
  • Does each step have input and output?
  • Are failure paths defined?
  • Does the workflow match the promise?

Baseline metric (recommended)

  • Score: 3 of 4 checks met
  • Date: 2026-02-06
  • Tool used: Notes app

Bibliography (sources used)

  1. Designing Agentic Workflows. OpenAI. 2026-02-06. Read: https://platform.openai.com/docs/guides/agents

  2. Workflow Patterns. Martin Fowler. 2024-01-01. Read: https://martinfowler.com/articles/workflow-patterns.html

Read more (optional)

  1. Agent Design Patterns Why: Practical workflow structure ideas. Read: https://platform.openai.com/docs/guides/agents