Agent Role Patterns by Task Category
Read this file when designing the team in Phase 2 to select appropriate roles and workflow shapes.
Contents
- Content & Writing
- Software Development
- Research & Analysis
- Marketing & Strategy
- Design & Creative
- Data & Reporting
- Universal Support Roles
Content & Writing
Example tasks: Article, blog post, white paper, report, book chapter, documentation, newsletter
Roles
| Role |
Responsibility |
| Researcher |
Gather facts, sources, statistics, and background context |
| Outline Architect |
Structure the piece: sections, argument flow, key points per section |
| Drafter |
Write full draft from outline and research notes |
| Content Editor |
Improve clarity, flow, structure, transitions, and argument coherence |
| Style Editor |
Apply tone/voice/style guidelines; remove passive voice, jargon, clichés |
| Fact Checker |
Verify all claims against research sources; flag unsupported assertions |
| Proofreader |
Final grammar, spelling, punctuation pass |
Workflow
Researcher → Outline Architect → [GATE 1] → Drafter → [GATE 2] → Content Editor → Style Editor → [GATE 3] → Fact Checker → Proofreader
Common Gates
- Gate 1 (post-outline): Human — does the structure match the goal?
- Gate 2 (post-draft): Human or automated — does it cover all sections, meet word count?
- Gate 3 (post-edit): Automated critic — readability score, style compliance
Lean Version (4 agents)
Researcher → Drafter → Editor → Fact Checker
Software Development
Example tasks: New feature, bug fix, refactor, API design, system design
Roles
| Role |
Responsibility |
| Requirements Analyst |
Clarify and formalise requirements; produce acceptance criteria |
| Architect |
Design the approach: components, interfaces, data flows, tech choices |
| Implementer |
Write the code |
| Test Writer |
Write unit/integration tests |
| Code Reviewer |
Review for correctness, security, style, edge cases |
| Documentation Writer |
Update or write docs, docstrings, README |
Workflow
Requirements Analyst → Architect → [GATE 1] → Implementer + Test Writer (parallel) → [GATE 2] → Code Reviewer → [GATE 3] → Documentation Writer
Common Gates
- Gate 1 (post-architecture): Human — approve design before coding
- Gate 2 (post-implementation): Automated — do tests pass? Are all acceptance criteria met?
- Gate 3 (post-review): Automated critic — does reviewer approve? Are all review comments addressed?
Research & Analysis
Example tasks: Market research, competitive analysis, literature review, feasibility study, due diligence
Roles
| Role |
Responsibility |
| Scoper |
Define research questions, scope, and methodology |
| Primary Researcher |
Gather raw data, sources, case studies |
| Secondary Researcher |
Cross-reference and expand with additional sources |
| Synthesiser |
Identify patterns, themes, and key insights across all sources |
| Critic |
Challenge findings: what's missing? What's weak? What contradicts? |
| Report Writer |
Structure and write the final deliverable |
Workflow
Scoper → [GATE 1] → Primary Researcher + Secondary Researcher (parallel) → Synthesiser → Critic → [GATE 2] → Report Writer
Common Gates
- Gate 1 (post-scope): Human — validate research questions before starting
- Gate 2 (post-synthesis + critique): Human or automated — are findings substantiated and complete?
Marketing & Strategy
Example tasks: Campaign plan, brand strategy, product launch plan, messaging framework, content calendar
Roles
| Role |
Responsibility |
| Market Analyst |
Research audience, competitors, trends, positioning landscape |
| Strategist |
Define positioning, goals, channels, and high-level approach |
| Messaging Copywriter |
Develop core messages, taglines, value propositions |
| Campaign Planner |
Translate strategy into concrete tactics, timeline, channels |
| Brand Reviewer |
Ensure consistency with brand voice, guidelines, and values |
| Critic |
Challenge strategy: what could fail? What's missing? |
Workflow
Market Analyst → Strategist → [GATE 1] → Messaging Copywriter + Campaign Planner (parallel) → Brand Reviewer → Critic → [GATE 2]
Common Gates
- Gate 1 (post-strategy): Human — approve strategic direction before tactical work
- Gate 2 (post-review + critique): Human — final approval before delivery
Design & Creative
Example tasks: Product concept, UX flow, visual brief, creative brief, storyboard, naming
Roles
| Role |
Responsibility |
| Creative Researcher |
Gather inspiration, references, analogues, trends |
| Concept Generator |
Produce multiple distinct conceptual directions (typically 3) |
| Concept Developer |
Develop the chosen direction in depth |
| Critic |
Stress-test the concept: originality, feasibility, audience fit |
| Refiner |
Incorporate critique, polish the concept |
| Brief Writer |
Document the final concept as a deliverable brief |
Workflow
Creative Researcher → Concept Generator → [GATE 1] → Concept Developer → Critic → [GATE 2] → Refiner → Brief Writer
Common Gates
- Gate 1 (post-concepts): Human — choose which concept direction to develop
- Gate 2 (post-critique): Human or automated — does the developed concept pass the critique?
Data & Reporting
Example tasks: Data analysis, dashboard design, metrics report, KPI summary, forecasting
Roles
| Role |
Responsibility |
| Data Scoper |
Define questions, metrics, data sources, and output format |
| Data Gatherer |
Collect and structure relevant data |
| Analyst |
Perform analysis: calculations, trends, anomalies, correlations |
| Visualisation Designer |
Design charts, tables, and visual presentation |
| Interpreter |
Write narrative: what does the data mean? What actions does it suggest? |
| Reviewer |
Sanity-check numbers, flag inconsistencies, verify conclusions |
Workflow
Data Scoper → [GATE 1] → Data Gatherer → Analyst → Visualisation Designer + Interpreter (parallel) → Reviewer → [GATE 2]
Common Gates
- Gate 1 (post-scope): Human — validate questions and data sources
- Gate 2 (post-review): Human — approve findings before distribution
Universal Support Roles
These roles can be added to any team regardless of category:
| Role |
When to add |
| Orchestrator |
Always — manages the team, gates, and loops (this is the lead agent) |
| Quality Critic |
Any automated gate — reviews output against defined criteria, returns pass/fail + notes |
| Consolidator |
When parallel agents produce outputs that need merging into one coherent document |
| Stakeholder Proxy |
When user needs are complex — simulates the target audience to stress-test output |
Workflow Shape Reference
| Shape |
When to use |
| Linear pipeline |
Tasks are strictly sequential; each depends on prior output |
| Parallel branches |
Independent subtasks can run simultaneously; consolidate before next gate |
| Iterative loop |
Output must meet a quality bar; critic → revise → re-check |
| Hybrid |
Most real tasks: linear at top level, parallel within stages, loops at gates |
1---2name: agent-role-patterns-by-task-category3description: Read this file when designing the team in Phase 2 to select appropriate roles and workflow shapes.4---5# Agent Role Patterns by Task Category67Read this file when designing the team in Phase 2 to select appropriate roles and workflow shapes.89## Contents101. [Content & Writing](#content--writing)112. [Software Development](#software-development)123. [Research & Analysis](#research--analysis)134. [Marketing & Strategy](#marketing--strategy)145. [Design & Creative](#design--creative)156. [Data & Reporting](#data--reporting)167. [Universal Support Roles](#universal-support-roles)1718---1920## Content & Writing2122**Example tasks:** Article, blog post, white paper, report, book chapter, documentation, newsletter2324### Roles25| Role | Responsibility |26|------|---------------|27| Researcher | Gather facts, sources, statistics, and background context |28| Outline Architect | Structure the piece: sections, argument flow, key points per section |29| Drafter | Write full draft from outline and research notes |30| Content Editor | Improve clarity, flow, structure, transitions, and argument coherence |31| Style Editor | Apply tone/voice/style guidelines; remove passive voice, jargon, clichés |32| Fact Checker | Verify all claims against research sources; flag unsupported assertions |33| Proofreader | Final grammar, spelling, punctuation pass |3435### Workflow36```37Researcher → Outline Architect → [GATE 1] → Drafter → [GATE 2] → Content Editor → Style Editor → [GATE 3] → Fact Checker → Proofreader38```3940### Common Gates41- Gate 1 (post-outline): Human — does the structure match the goal?42- Gate 2 (post-draft): Human or automated — does it cover all sections, meet word count?43- Gate 3 (post-edit): Automated critic — readability score, style compliance4445### Lean Version (4 agents)46Researcher → Drafter → Editor → Fact Checker4748---4950## Software Development5152**Example tasks:** New feature, bug fix, refactor, API design, system design5354### Roles55| Role | Responsibility |56|------|---------------|57| Requirements Analyst | Clarify and formalise requirements; produce acceptance criteria |58| Architect | Design the approach: components, interfaces, data flows, tech choices |59| Implementer | Write the code |60| Test Writer | Write unit/integration tests |61| Code Reviewer | Review for correctness, security, style, edge cases |62| Documentation Writer | Update or write docs, docstrings, README |6364### Workflow65```66Requirements Analyst → Architect → [GATE 1] → Implementer + Test Writer (parallel) → [GATE 2] → Code Reviewer → [GATE 3] → Documentation Writer67```6869### Common Gates70- Gate 1 (post-architecture): Human — approve design before coding71- Gate 2 (post-implementation): Automated — do tests pass? Are all acceptance criteria met?72- Gate 3 (post-review): Automated critic — does reviewer approve? Are all review comments addressed?7374---7576## Research & Analysis7778**Example tasks:** Market research, competitive analysis, literature review, feasibility study, due diligence7980### Roles81| Role | Responsibility |82|------|---------------|83| Scoper | Define research questions, scope, and methodology |84| Primary Researcher | Gather raw data, sources, case studies |85| Secondary Researcher | Cross-reference and expand with additional sources |86| Synthesiser | Identify patterns, themes, and key insights across all sources |87| Critic | Challenge findings: what's missing? What's weak? What contradicts? |88| Report Writer | Structure and write the final deliverable |8990### Workflow91```92Scoper → [GATE 1] → Primary Researcher + Secondary Researcher (parallel) → Synthesiser → Critic → [GATE 2] → Report Writer93```9495### Common Gates96- Gate 1 (post-scope): Human — validate research questions before starting97- Gate 2 (post-synthesis + critique): Human or automated — are findings substantiated and complete?9899---100101## Marketing & Strategy102103**Example tasks:** Campaign plan, brand strategy, product launch plan, messaging framework, content calendar104105### Roles106| Role | Responsibility |107|------|---------------|108| Market Analyst | Research audience, competitors, trends, positioning landscape |109| Strategist | Define positioning, goals, channels, and high-level approach |110| Messaging Copywriter | Develop core messages, taglines, value propositions |111| Campaign Planner | Translate strategy into concrete tactics, timeline, channels |112| Brand Reviewer | Ensure consistency with brand voice, guidelines, and values |113| Critic | Challenge strategy: what could fail? What's missing? |114115### Workflow116```117Market Analyst → Strategist → [GATE 1] → Messaging Copywriter + Campaign Planner (parallel) → Brand Reviewer → Critic → [GATE 2]118```119120### Common Gates121- Gate 1 (post-strategy): Human — approve strategic direction before tactical work122- Gate 2 (post-review + critique): Human — final approval before delivery123124---125126## Design & Creative127128**Example tasks:** Product concept, UX flow, visual brief, creative brief, storyboard, naming129130### Roles131| Role | Responsibility |132|------|---------------|133| Creative Researcher | Gather inspiration, references, analogues, trends |134| Concept Generator | Produce multiple distinct conceptual directions (typically 3) |135| Concept Developer | Develop the chosen direction in depth |136| Critic | Stress-test the concept: originality, feasibility, audience fit |137| Refiner | Incorporate critique, polish the concept |138| Brief Writer | Document the final concept as a deliverable brief |139140### Workflow141```142Creative Researcher → Concept Generator → [GATE 1] → Concept Developer → Critic → [GATE 2] → Refiner → Brief Writer143```144145### Common Gates146- Gate 1 (post-concepts): Human — choose which concept direction to develop147- Gate 2 (post-critique): Human or automated — does the developed concept pass the critique?148149---150151## Data & Reporting152153**Example tasks:** Data analysis, dashboard design, metrics report, KPI summary, forecasting154155### Roles156| Role | Responsibility |157|------|---------------|158| Data Scoper | Define questions, metrics, data sources, and output format |159| Data Gatherer | Collect and structure relevant data |160| Analyst | Perform analysis: calculations, trends, anomalies, correlations |161| Visualisation Designer | Design charts, tables, and visual presentation |162| Interpreter | Write narrative: what does the data mean? What actions does it suggest? |163| Reviewer | Sanity-check numbers, flag inconsistencies, verify conclusions |164165### Workflow166```167Data Scoper → [GATE 1] → Data Gatherer → Analyst → Visualisation Designer + Interpreter (parallel) → Reviewer → [GATE 2]168```169170### Common Gates171- Gate 1 (post-scope): Human — validate questions and data sources172- Gate 2 (post-review): Human — approve findings before distribution173174---175176## Universal Support Roles177178These roles can be added to any team regardless of category:179180| Role | When to add |181|------|-------------|182| **Orchestrator** | Always — manages the team, gates, and loops (this is the lead agent) |183| **Quality Critic** | Any automated gate — reviews output against defined criteria, returns pass/fail + notes |184| **Consolidator** | When parallel agents produce outputs that need merging into one coherent document |185| **Stakeholder Proxy** | When user needs are complex — simulates the target audience to stress-test output |186187---188189## Workflow Shape Reference190191| Shape | When to use |192|-------|------------|193| **Linear pipeline** | Tasks are strictly sequential; each depends on prior output |194| **Parallel branches** | Independent subtasks can run simultaneously; consolidate before next gate |195| **Iterative loop** | Output must meet a quality bar; critic → revise → re-check |196| **Hybrid** | Most real tasks: linear at top level, parallel within stages, loops at gates |
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