cognitive-load-assessment

# Cognitive Load Assessment Skill

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

- **Cognitive Load Assessment tasks** - Working on measure and manage team cognitive load
- **Planning or design** - Need guidance on Cognitive Load Assessment approaches
- **Best practices** - Want to follow established patterns and standards

## Overview

Measure and manage team cognitive load to optimize productivity and sustainability.

## MANDATORY: Documentation-First Approach

Before assessing cognitive load:

1. **Invoke `docs-management` skill** for cognitive load patterns
2. **Verify concepts** via MCP servers (perplexity)
3. **Base guidance on cognitive load theory and Team Topologies**

## Cognitive Load Theory for Teams

```text
Three Types of Cognitive Load:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    TOTAL COGNITIVE LOAD                     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  ┌───────────────┐  ┌───────────────┐  ┌───────────────┐    │
│  │   INTRINSIC   │  │  EXTRANEOUS   │  │    GERMANE    │    │
│  │   (Domain)    │  │  (Accidental) │  │  (Learning)   │    │
│  │               │  │               │  │               │    │
│  │ • Business    │  │ • Bad tools   │  │ • New skills  │    │
│  │   complexity  │  │ • Tech debt   │  │ • Growth      │    │
│  │ • Domain      │  │ • Manual      │  │ • Innovation  │    │
│  │   knowledge   │  │   processes   │  │               │    │
│  └───────────────┘  └───────────────┘  └───────────────┘    │
│                                                              │
│  GOAL: Reduce extraneous, manage intrinsic, allow germane   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

## Intrinsic Cognitive Load

```text
INTRINSIC LOAD: Inherent complexity of the domain

Sources:
• Business domain complexity
• Required domain knowledge
• Problem space difficulty
• Integration complexity
• Compliance requirements

Management Strategies:
• Clear boun