# Rules, model assistance, or agent: decision worksheet

AI Systems Studio · 2026-09-13

1. Define the trigger, input, destination, process owner and reviewer.
2. Write the known branching rules. If a structured form removes ambiguity, test that first.
3. Identify any step that requires interpreting unstructured input. Bound its input and output.
4. List allowed tools and forbidden actions. Dynamic tool selection needs a reason beyond novelty.
5. Define expected results for normal, ambiguous, missing-data, duplicate and unauthorized cases.
6. Compare a rules-only baseline and the smallest model-assisted alternative on the same examples.
7. Record task quality, review effort, exceptions, latency and operating cost separately.
8. Choose a pilot, process improvement, or no-build decision. Record the evidence and unresolved questions.

| Candidate | Expected advantage | Risks and controls | Reviewer | Evidence needed | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Process change | | | | | |
| Deterministic workflow | | | | | |
| Bounded model step | | | | | |
| Dynamic agent | | | | | |

Keep approvals, access checks and consequential writes under explicit application control. This worksheet is a planning aid, not a system safety guarantee.

https://www.aisystemsstudio.com/blog/ai-agents-vs-workflow-automation