Table of Contents
What Tasks Require Predictable Workflows Instead of Adaptive Agents?
Learn when to use deterministic workflows for well-defined, repeatable processes versus autonomous agents for dynamic problem-solving requiring predictability and audit trails.
Question
When should you use a deterministic workflow instead of an autonomous agent?
A. When the task is simple and requires only one Claude call
B. When steps are well-defined and the process needs to be predictable and repeatable
C. When you need the fastest possible execution time
D. Workflows should never be used, agents are always better
Answer
B. When steps are well-defined and the process needs to be predictable and repeatable
Explanation
Deterministic workflows excel when you have a clear, structured process with predefined steps that must execute reliably every time without deviation, such as data processing pipelines, report generation, or approval flows where predictability, auditability, and repeatability are critical. Autonomous agents shine for open-ended problem solving but introduce variability through their adaptive decision-making, making them unsuitable for regulated compliance scenarios, financial calculations, or any process requiring guaranteed consistency across repeated executions.