project-flow-ops

name	project-flow-ops
description	Operate execution flow — triage tasks, manage priorities, keep progress structured. Use when the user needs backlog control, task planning, or workflow coordination across projects.
version	1.1
updated	2026-05-22
assumes	There is a backlog or set of projects that can be ranked and reviewed.
conflicts_with	Do not replace behavior-design for habit formation or agent-teams-command for active multi-agent orchestration.

Project Flow Operations

Keep execution structured and progress visible — triage, plan, track, and review across projects.

Usage Template

Prompt

Use project-flow-ops to triage this backlog. Rank priorities, identify blockers, and produce the next execution plan.

Use Case

• Turning scattered tasks or competing projects into a clear action queue.

Expected Result

• The agent returns prioritized work, blockers, next actions, and review cadence.

Output Example

• A ranked backlog with status, owner, next action, blocker, priority reason, and review date.

Verification Case

• Every top-priority item has an owner, next action, status, and reason for priority.

Verified Effect

• A messy backlog becomes a ranked execution queue with visible blockers and review cadence.

Success Metrics

• Top-priority items each have owner, status, blocker, next action, and review date.
• Backlog is ranked with a reason for priority instead of only grouped by theme.
• Output identifies one immediate next action and one item to defer or drop.

When to Use

• User says "what should I work on next?"
• Starting a new task or project
• Reviewing progress or blocked items
• User feels overwhelmed or unclear on priorities

Workflow

P1: Triage — What's Active?

Scan current state:

ACTIVE:   What's in progress now? (limit: 1-2)
BACKLOG:  What's waiting? (ordered by priority)
BLOCKED:  What's stuck and why?
COMPLETED: What's done since last review?

For each blocked item: identify the one thing that unblocks it.

P2: Plan — What's Next?

Select the next task from the backlog with clear scope:

Task: [one-line description]
Why now: [urgency or opportunity]
Definition of done: [what "done" looks like]
Timebox: [max time to spend]

Rule: One task at a time. Context switching is the productivity killer.

P3: Execute — Focus & Track

During execution:

• Break the task into ≤15 minute steps
• Verify after each step (verify-before-claim)
• Check in after timebox expires — extend or pivot

P4: Review — Close & Learn

After completion:

• What did we learn?
• What should be documented? → wiki or SOP
• What's next?

Priority Framework

Priority	Criteria	Action
🔴 Critical	Blocks others, deadline imminent	Do now
🟡 Important	Moves key metric, this week	Schedule today
🟢 Normal	Valuable, no deadline	Backlog
⚪ Low	Nice-to-have	Someday/maybe

Anti-patterns

• Doing everything — multitasking reduces throughput for everyone
• Perfectionism — done beats perfect for early-stage work
• No timebox — unbounded tasks expand to fill all available time

Quality Gates

• Active items limited to 1-2
• Blocked items have an unblock action identified
• Next task has definition of done and timebox
• Completed items reviewed for documentation needs
• Priority labels applied