search-strategy

name	search_strategy
description	Plan a multi-step research strategy for complex questions requiring deep investigation
metadata	{"openclaw":{"tags":["enterprise-search","strategy","research","planning"]}}

Search Strategy

Plan and execute a structured, multi-step research strategy for complex questions that cannot be answered by a single search. This skill breaks down a research question into sub-queries, identifies the best sources for each, and builds a progressive investigation plan.

When to Use

Activate this skill when the user wants to:

• Investigate a complex topic that spans multiple domains
• Research a competitive landscape or market question
• Understand a decision's full context from multiple angles
• Prepare for a deep-dive analysis that requires structured data gathering
• Answer a question where the right sources are not obvious up front

Workflow

Step 1: Analyze the research question

Break the user's question into its component parts:

• Identify the core question and any implicit sub-questions
• Determine what types of information are needed (factual data, opinions, historical context, internal decisions)
• Identify which organizational sources are most likely to have relevant information
• Estimate the scope: narrow (1-2 sub-queries) vs. broad (5+ sub-queries)

Step 2: Design the search plan

Create a structured plan with ordered phases:

Phase A -- Context gathering: Define 2-3 broad searches to establish baseline understanding.

Phase B -- Targeted investigation: Define 3-5 focused searches that drill into specific aspects identified in Phase A.

Phase C -- Gap filling: Reserve 1-2 searches for questions that emerge from Phases A and B.

For each planned search, specify:

• The sub-query in natural language
• Which capability to use (research.web_search, docs.search_files, mail.read_inbox, chat.search_messages)
• Why this source is appropriate for this sub-query
• What a successful result looks like

Step 3: Execute Phase A -- context gathering

For each Phase A search, use capability_execute with the following parameters:

• capabilityId: the capability identified in the plan (e.g., research.web_search)
• packId: enterprise-search
• args:
  • query: the sub-query text
  • maxResults: 10

Review Phase A results before proceeding. Refine Phase B searches based on what was found. If Phase A reveals the question is simpler than expected, skip directly to synthesis.

Step 4: Execute Phase B -- targeted investigation

For each Phase B search, use capability_execute with the appropriate capabilityId:

• capabilityId: as specified in the plan
• packId: enterprise-search
• args:
  • query: the refined sub-query
  • maxResults: 10

After each search, assess whether the question is sufficiently answered. Stop early if enough evidence has been gathered.

Step 5: Execute Phase C -- gap filling

If there are still unanswered aspects after Phase B, execute gap-filling searches.

Use capability_execute with:

• capabilityId: the most appropriate capability for the gap
• packId: enterprise-search
• args:
  • query: the gap-filling query
  • maxResults: 5

Step 6: Compile the strategy report

Assemble findings from all phases into a structured report.

Output Format

## Research Strategy Report: "{original question}"

### Strategy Overview

**Core question:** {the user's question restated clearly}
**Research approach:** {1-2 sentences describing the strategy taken}
**Phases completed:** {A, B, C as applicable}
**Total searches executed:** {count}

### Phase A: Context Gathering

**Sub-query 1:** "{query text}"
- **Source:** {capability used}
- **Key findings:**
  - {finding 1}
  - {finding 2}
- **Implications for next phase:** {what this tells us to look for next}

**Sub-query 2:** "{query text}"
- **Source:** {capability used}
- **Key findings:**
  - {finding 1}
  - {finding 2}

### Phase B: Targeted Investigation

**Sub-query 3:** "{query text}"
- **Source:** {capability used}
- **Key findings:**
  - {finding 1}
  - {finding 2}

[... additional sub-queries ...]

### Phase C: Gap Filling

{If executed, same format. If skipped, note why.}

### Synthesis

**Answer to the core question:**
{3-5 paragraph synthesis of all findings, directly addressing the user's question}

**Confidence level:** {high / medium / low}
**Key evidence:**
- {most important supporting finding with source}
- {second most important finding with source}
- {third most important finding with source}

**Gaps and limitations:**
- {information that could not be found}
- {sources that were not available}

### Recommended Next Steps

1. {next step if the user wants to go deeper}
2. {alternative angle to explore}
3. {action to take based on findings}

If the user's question turns out to be simpler than expected, collapse the output into a shorter format and note that a full strategy was not needed.