The delegation test is whether you can write the check first

Description and use

Implementing a "write the check first" practice enables clearer task handoffs to AI agents, reducing iterations and broadening team involvement.

Problem

Determining when to hand tasks to a coding agent is often based on task difficulty, leading to misaligned handoffs and repeated iterations.

Outcome

Implementing a pre-written acceptance check before delegating tasks to AI agents reduced redundant iterations, clarified expectations, and broadened team participation in handoffs.

Workflow

• 1. Identify the task to be delegated.
• 2. Write a clear, checkable acceptance criterion before drafting any prompt.
• 3. Ensure the criterion is specific, measurable, and testable (e.g., pagination behavior, dependency upgrade, allocation metrics).
• 4. Draft the prompt based on the acceptance criterion.
• 5. Delegate the task to the coding agent.
• 6. Review the agent’s output against the written check.
• 7. Iterate only if the check is not met; otherwise accept the result.

Evidence

If you can write the check, hand it off. If you cannot, the task is not ready to hand to anybody.

Source

The trick with the second list is that it is usually not one task. It is a decision wearing a task costume.

Source