Task Specification Template

Define the outcome, audience, sources, constraints, format, review criteria, and stop conditions.

For AI Foundations learners · Printable PDF · 2 pages · Also available online below

Use this template after deciding that the task and information are suitable for the proposed method.

1. Outcome

• Deliverable:
• Purpose:
• What a successful result lets the audience do:

2. Audience

• Who will use the result:
• What they already know:
• What they need next:
• Appropriate language and tone:

3. Context

• Why the work is needed:
• Decisions already made:
• Time period, location, product, or group in scope:
• Important definitions:

4. Authorised sources

• Sources the work must use:
• Sources it may use:
• Sources it must not use:
• How to label missing, conflicting, or uncertain information:

5. Constraints and boundaries

• Required content:
• Excluded content:
• Length, language, scope, or timing limits:
• Data, privacy, confidentiality, copyright, or security limits:
• Actions the system must not take:

6. Output format

• Structure or fields:
• Required order:
• Date, number, currency, or unit format:
• How evidence and uncertainty should appear:

7. Review criteria

• Factual checks:
• Completeness checks:
• Audience and relevance checks:
• Source and assumption checks:
• Format and accessibility checks:

8. Workflow and authority

• Stages:
• Tool or method for each stage:
• Reviewer for each stage:
• Final approver:
• Actions requiring confirmation:

9. Clarification and stop conditions

• Questions that must be answered first:
• Conditions that stop the work:
• Person or process that receives an escalation:

10. Revision record