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Task Decomposition

Learn to break down complex goals into manageable, executable subtasks

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Introduction

Decomposition Strategies

Dependency Management

Execution Ordering

Key Takeaways

Module Complete! 🎉

Congratulations! You now understand how to break down complex goals into manageable subtasks, manage dependencies, and optimize execution order. These skills are fundamental to building effective AI agents.

What You Learned

🎯

Decomposition Fundamentals

• Why decomposition matters

• Monolithic vs decomposed

• Core principles (clarity, atomicity)

📊

Decomposition Strategies

• Top-down approach

• Bottom-up exploration

• Hybrid combinations

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Dependency Management

• Sequential dependencies

• Parallel independence

• Join dependencies

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Execution Optimization

• Topological sorting

• Critical path method

• Priority-based execution

Knowledge Checklist

Check off items as you review. Aim for 100% before moving to the next module!

0 of 15 complete

I understand why task decomposition is critical for AI agents

Fundamentals

I can break complex goals into clear, actionable subtasks

Fundamentals

I know the difference between monolithic and decomposed approaches

Fundamentals

I can apply top-down decomposition starting from high-level goals

Strategies

I understand bottom-up decomposition for exploratory work

Strategies

I know when to use hybrid approaches combining both strategies

Strategies

I can build hierarchical task trees with appropriate depth

Strategies

I can identify sequential dependencies between tasks

Dependencies

I recognize when tasks can run in parallel independently

Dependencies

I understand join dependencies where multiple tasks must complete

Dependencies

I can detect and avoid circular dependencies

Dependencies

I know how to use topological sorting for correct execution order

Execution

I can identify critical paths to minimize total completion time

Execution

I understand priority-based execution for business value optimization

Execution

I can maximize parallelism while respecting resource constraints

Best Practices

Quick Reference Guide

Decomposition Checklist

1. Start with clear goal statement

2. Break into 2-5 major subtasks

3. Recursively decompose each subtask

4. Stop when tasks are atomic (15-30min each)

5. Map dependencies between tasks

6. Choose execution strategy

7. Monitor and adapt as needed

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

❌ Tasks still too large (under-decomposed)
❌ Too many subtasks per level (cognitive overload)
❌ Ignoring dependencies (incorrect results)
❌ Missing parallelization opportunities (slow execution)
❌ Circular dependencies (deadlock)

Continue Your Journey

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Chain of Thought

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Practice Exercises

• Decompose your next software project into a task tree
• Build a dependency graph for a complex workflow
• Implement a topological sort algorithm
• Create an agent that decomposes user requests automatically

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