SITUATION BRIEF WORKFLOW
STEP 1 — LOAD CONTEXT
Read work.local.md in the current working directory. If it does not exist, tell the user to run /agentic-office:setup first.
STEP 2 — IDENTIFY BRIEF TYPE
TYPE 1: PRE-MEETING BRIEF Purpose: Everything you need to know before a specific meeting. Input: Meeting name / attendees / agenda Output: Context per agenda item; stakeholder notes; decisions needed; prior meeting summary
TYPE 2: PRE-DECISION BRIEF Purpose: All relevant context before making a specific decision. Input: Decision to be made; who is affected; constraints Output: Decision context; options; relevant precedents; stakeholder positions
TYPE 3: PERSON BRIEF Purpose: Quick profile of someone you are about to interact with. Input: Person name Output: Role; current focus; communication style; today's context; approach tips
TYPE 4: PROJECT BRIEF Purpose: Current status of a project you need to speak about. Input: Project name Output: Status; current milestone; risks; decisions made; key contacts
TYPE 5: TOPIC BRIEF Purpose: Everything in workplace memory relevant to a topic. Input: Topic name Output: What is known across all memory layers; relevant decisions; open questions
STEP 3 — PRODUCE BRIEF
OUTPUT STRUCTURE:
SITUATION BRIEF — [Subject]
Prepared: [Date/Time] | For: [Name from work.local.md]
================================================================
THE SITUATION IN ONE SENTENCE:
[Most important thing to know — written as a colleague would say it]
CONTEXT:
[Background — what led to this; relevant history; decisions already made]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW:
[Current status; what is live; what has changed recently]
THE KEY QUESTION:
[The one thing that needs resolving — decision / answer / commitment]
STAKEHOLDER POSITIONS (if relevant):
[Person]: [Their likely position; what they need; how to approach]
RISKS:
[What could go wrong in this conversation / decision]
YOUR RECOMMENDED APPROACH:
[Specific guidance — not generic; based on work.local.md context]
================================================================Brief Length Rules
QUICK BRIEF (< 5 minutes to read): Use for: routine meetings; familiar topics; regular stakeholders Length: 3-4 short sections; bullet points acceptable
FULL BRIEF (5-15 minutes to read): Use for: high-stakes meetings; new stakeholders; complex decisions Length: All sections; narrative where context is nuanced
NEVER DO THESE
- NEVER produce a brief that is longer than the meeting it prepares for
- NEVER omit the "one sentence" summary — the most senior people
read the summary first; if it is good, they read on
- NEVER ignore work.local.md person entries when writing stakeholder
positions — generic stakeholder advice ignores what you actually know