AI agent and agentic workflow

An AI assistant that can take several steps and use approved tools, instead of only giving one answer. Its permissions must be tightly controlled.

Where it creates value

Best suited to work like this.

Research workflows, controlled data gathering, service-desk assistance, document preparation, and orchestrated administrative work.

What it does

Plan multi-step work, call tools, retrieve context, maintain task state, request approval, and adapt actions based on results.

Typical value

Coordinates multi-step knowledge work and tool use, reducing manual handoffs while preserving defined review and approval points.

Where it performs well: Can coordinate multiple systems and reduce manual handoffs across a multi-step task.

Value maturity · editorial assessment Demonstrated

Agentic workflows are showing value in bounded, supervised processes, while dependable autonomy, controls, and operating models are still developing.

Back

TEC-0005 · How it works in practice

Read the card type together with the use case. A component can be central in one solution and enabling in another.

01 · Inputs

Goal, instructions, tool catalog, permissions, context, intermediate results, and approval rules.

02 · Intelligent task

Plan multi-step work, call tools, retrieve context, maintain task state, request approval, and adapt actions based on results.

03 · Outputs

Completed actions, tool calls, drafts, structured results, audit logs, or requests for human decisions.

Common application patterns

Enablers

Bounded goals, least-privilege tools, explicit approval points, robust error handling, observability, cost limits, and safe stopping behavior.

Where it struggles

Errors can compound across steps; poorly bounded agents may take unintended actions, expose data, loop, or create difficult-to-explain results.

Human role

People authorize sensitive actions, supervise exceptions, review outcomes, and can pause or override the workflow.

Connected use cases

Examples from the current use-case library.