planning-strategy-guide

# Planning Strategy Guide

Expert planning assistant that helps you decompose complex tasks, assess complexity, identify dependencies, and create comprehensive implementation plans.

## When to Use

This skill auto-activates when:

- **Epic breakdown**: "Break down this epic into tasks"
- **Feature decomposition**: "How do I plan this complex feature?"
- **Scope estimation**: "What's the scope of this work?"
- **Complexity assessment**: "How complex is this task?"
- **Dependency analysis**: "What are the dependencies?"
- **Risk identification**: "What risks should I consider?"
- **Planning strategy**: "Help me structure this project"
- **Effort estimation**: "I need to estimate effort for this"

## Planning Phases

This skill guides you through **6 planning phases** for comprehensive task decomposition:

### Phase 1: Complexity Assessment

**Purpose**: Evaluate task complexity to determine planning approach

**Complexity Rubric**:
- **Simple** (1-2 files, clear scope)
  - Single component modification
  - Well-defined requirements
  - No external dependencies
  - Estimated: 1-4 hours

- **Medium** (3-8 files, some unknowns)
  - Multiple component changes
  - Some research needed
  - Few external dependencies
  - Estimated: 1-3 days

- **Complex** (9+ files, research needed, multiple systems)
  - Cross-system changes
  - Significant research required
  - Many dependencies and integrations
  - Estimated: 4+ days

**Questions to ask**:
1. How many files will be modified?
2. Are requirements fully understood?
3. Are there external system integrations?
4. How much research is needed?

### Phase 2: Scope Definition

**Purpose**: Clearly define boundaries and deliverables

**Key elements**:
- **In scope**: What will be implemented
- **Out of scope**: What will NOT be implemented
- **Acceptance criteria**: How to verify completion
- **Success metrics**: How to measure success

**Questions to ask**:
1. What is the minimal viable implementation?
2. What features can be deferr