Project 29: Operational Playbooks and Templates Factory
Package reusable operational templates that make agent delivery and governance repeatable.
Quick Reference
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 3: Advanced |
| Time Estimate | 8-16 hours |
| Language | Markdown + YAML |
| Prerequisites | Product/process documentation fundamentals |
| Key Topics | PRDs, architecture templates, prompt versioning, readiness checklists |
Learning Objectives
- Create concise, enforceable templates for agent delivery.
- Align templates with release and governance gates.
- Version operational artifacts over time.
- Improve cross-functional coordination through shared docs.
The Core Question You’re Answering
“How do you make high-quality agent delivery systematic instead of ad hoc?”
Concepts You Must Understand First
| Concept | Why It Matters | Where to Learn |
|---|---|---|
| Checklist design | reduces execution variability | checklist methodology |
| Process ownership | prevents template drift | team topology concepts |
| Review gates | ties artifacts to real decisions | delivery governance |
| Versioned operations docs | enables controlled evolution | documentation operations |
Theoretical Foundation
Template Pack -> Team Workflow -> Review Gates -> Release Readiness
Templates work only when tied to decisions, not archival documentation.
Project Specification
What You’ll Build
A playbook pack with:
- Agent PRD template
- Architecture diagram template
- Prompt version template
- Risk, monetization, production, and enterprise readiness checklists
Functional Requirements
- Seven templates with mandatory fields
- Ownership and sign-off metadata
- Validation script for missing sections
- Version history convention
Non-Functional Requirements
- Low document overhead
- Cross-team readability
- Easy review and update process
Real World Outcome
$ node p29_generate_playbooks.js --team "agent-platform"
[templates] generated=7
[validation] required_fields=PASS
[versions] all_templates=1.0.0
[artifact] playbooks/ complete
Architecture Overview
Template Definitions -> Validator -> Version Registry -> Team Adoption Dashboard
Implementation Guide
Phase 1: Template Core
- Define mandatory fields and owners.
Phase 2: Validation Workflow
- Implement checklist validator and review hooks.
Phase 3: Adoption Loop
- Track usage and update templates from feedback.
Testing Strategy
- Template completeness tests
- Review-cycle usability tests
- Drift detection against recent incident reports
Common Pitfalls & Debugging
| Pitfall | Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Template overload | low adoption | shorten and prioritize required fields |
| No ownership | stale docs | assign owners and refresh cadence |
| Gate bypass | docs ignored | tie template completion to release policy |
Interview Questions They’ll Ask
- Why do operational templates matter in AI product teams?
- How do you avoid checklist fatigue?
- Which fields are mandatory for agent PRDs?
- How do you version prompt and policy documentation?
Hints in Layers
- Hint 1: Keep templates one page where possible.
- Hint 2: Tag owner and reviewer on every artifact.
- Hint 3: Validate before review meetings.
- Hint 4: Publish changelog with every version bump.
Submission / Completion Criteria
Minimum Completion
- Complete template pack with validation checks
Full Completion
- Team-ready review flow and ownership model
Excellence
- Measurable reduction in release-prep ambiguity