sead-method-core/sead-core/tasks/execute-checklist.md

Specification Enforced Agentic Agile Development - A hybrid methodology preventing AI agent drift through catalog-based constraints with comprehensive external asset integration

# Execute Checklist Validation Workflow

**Task ID**: execute-checklist  
**Agent**: sead-qa + domain-specific agents  
**Output**: Comprehensive validation report with compliance status  
**Dependencies**: Target checklist file, validation artifacts, constitutional framework  

## Overview

Systematic checklist execution workflow that validates documents, processes, and deliverables against SEAD quality standards with constitutional compliance integration. This workflow ensures thorough validation while maintaining governance alignment throughout the assessment process.

## Phase 1: Checklist Identification and Preparation

### 1.1 Checklist Discovery and Selection
**Agent**: SEAD QA
- Identify appropriate checklist from sead-core/checklists directory
- Load checklist metadata and constitutional requirements
- Validate checklist version and constitutional compliance status
- Confirm checklist applicability for current validation context

### 1.2 Validation Artifact Gathering
**Agent**: SEAD QA + Domain-Specific Agents
- Collect all required artifacts specified in checklist header
- Validate artifact availability and completeness
- Confirm access permissions and readability
- Establish validation environment and context

**Elicit**: 
```
CHECKLIST PREPARATION STATUS

Available Checklists:
- [Checklist 1]: [name] - Purpose: [description] - Artifacts Required: [count]
- [Checklist 2]: [name] - Purpose: [description] - Artifacts Required: [count]
- [Checklist 3]: [name] - Purpose: [description] - Artifacts Required: [count]

Selected Checklist: [checklist-name]
- Constitutional Integration: [version and status]
- Total Validation Items: [count]
- Required Domain Agents: [list of agents needed]
- Estimated Validation Time: [time based on mode]

Required Artifacts Status:
- [Artifact 1]: [available/missing/needs access]
- [Artifact 2]: [available/missing/needs access]
- [Artifact 3]: [available/missing/needs access]
- [Additional artifacts...]: [status]

Missing Artifacts: [list any missing items]
Access Issues: [list any permission or availability problems]

Validation Environment:
- Development Mode: [current mode]
- Constitutional Framework: [loaded/configured]
- Quality Standards: [configured for mode]
- Agent Collaboration: [ready/needs coordination]

Ready to proceed with checklist execution? [Ready/Needs resolution]
```

## Phase 2: Systematic Checklist Execution

### 2.1 Constitutional Framework Initialization
**Agent**: SEAD QA
- Initialize constitutional rules for current validation mode
- Configure governance integration and audit trail requirements
- Establish quality gates and constraint enforcement parameters
- Prepare context preservation for validation handoffs

### 2.2 Section-by-Section Validation
**Agent**: SEAD QA + Domain-Specific Agents
- Execute each checklist section according to embedded LLM instructions
- Apply constitutional compliance validation throughout process
- Document findings with evidence and rationale for each item
- Implement interactive collaboration as specified in checklist

**Elicit**:
```
CHECKLIST SECTION VALIDATION

Current Section: [section-number]. [section-title]
Items in Section: [count] - Processing Mode: [Interactive/YOLO]

Section Validation Progress:
Item: [item-text]
- Status: [✅ PASS / ❌ FAIL / ⚠️ PARTIAL / N/A]
- Evidence: [specific evidence found or explanation]
- Constitutional Compliance: [compliant/needs attention]
- Rationale: [reasoning for status decision]

[Repeat for each item in section]

Section Summary:
- Pass Rate: [percentage] ([passed]/[total] items)
- Critical Failures: [count and list]
- Partial Items Requiring Attention: [count and list]
- N/A Items: [count with justification]

Constitutional Compliance for Section:
- Governance Alignment: [compliant/issues identified]
- Quality Standards Met: [yes/no/partially]
- Audit Trail Complete: [complete/gaps identified]

Continue to next section or address issues in current section?
Options:
1. Proceed to next section
2. Review and refine current section findings
3. Request domain expert consultation
4. Apply additional constitutional validation
5. Gather additional evidence for failed items
6. Document mitigation strategies for failures
7. Request stakeholder clarification
8. Implement corrective actions
9. Generate detailed remediation plan

Select option 1-9 or provide specific feedback:
```

### 2.3 Cross-Section Analysis and Pattern Recognition
**Agent**: SEAD QA + Domain-Specific Agents
- Analyze patterns in validation findings across sections
- Identify systematic issues and root causes
- Assess overall compliance trends and quality patterns
- Validate consistency of assessment criteria application

## Phase 3: Comprehensive Analysis and Reporting

### 3.1 Overall Compliance Assessment
**Agent**: SEAD QA
- Calculate comprehensive pass rates and quality metrics
- Analyze critical failure patterns and systemic issues
- Assess constitutional compliance across all validation areas
- Generate risk assessment and impact analysis

### 3.2 Remediation Planning and Recommendations
**Agent**: SEAD QA + Domain-Specific Agents
- Develop specific remediation plans for identified failures
- Prioritize issues based on severity and impact
- Create actionable recommendations with timelines
- Assess resource requirements for issue resolution

**Elicit**:
```
COMPREHENSIVE VALIDATION ANALYSIS

Overall Checklist Results:
- Total Items Validated: [count]
- Overall Pass Rate: [percentage]
- Critical Failures: [count] - Severity: [high/medium/low]
- Partial Validations: [count] - Require Action: [yes/no]
- Not Applicable Items: [count] - Justified: [yes/no]

Section Performance Summary:
Section: [section-name]
- Pass Rate: [percentage]
- Key Issues: [summary of main problems]
- Constitutional Compliance: [status]

[Repeat for each section]

Pattern Analysis:
- Recurring Issues: [list common problems across sections]
- Root Causes: [identified systemic issues]
- Quality Trends: [improving/stable/declining/mixed]
- Constitutional Alignment: [strong/adequate/needs work]

Risk Assessment:
- High Risk Issues: [count and descriptions]
- Medium Risk Issues: [count and descriptions]
- Impact on Project: [high/medium/low/minimal]
- Timeline Impact: [critical/moderate/minor/none]

Remediation Priority Matrix:
1. Critical/Immediate: [issue list]
2. High/Short-term: [issue list]
3. Medium/Medium-term: [issue list]
4. Low/Long-term: [issue list]

Overall Validation Status: [PASS/CONDITIONAL PASS/FAIL]
```

## Phase 4: Stakeholder Communication and Follow-up

### 4.1 Validation Report Generation
**Agent**: SEAD QA
- Generate comprehensive validation report with all findings
- Include constitutional compliance assessment and certification
- Document remediation plans and recommended actions
- Prepare executive summary for stakeholder communication

### 4.2 Stakeholder Review and Action Planning
**Agent**: SEAD QA + Human Stakeholders
- Present validation findings and recommendations to stakeholders
- Gather stakeholder feedback and priorities for remediation
- Establish timeline and resource allocation for issue resolution
- Plan follow-up validation and continuous improvement processes

**Elicit**:
```
FINAL VALIDATION REPORT

Executive Summary:
- Validation Scope: [description of what was validated]
- Overall Assessment: [PASS/CONDITIONAL/FAIL] - Score: [percentage]
- Critical Issues: [count] - Resolved: [count] - Remaining: [count]
- Constitutional Compliance: [CERTIFIED/CONDITIONAL/NON-COMPLIANT]
- Time to Resolution: [estimated timeline for remaining issues]

Stakeholder Communication:
- Report Recipients: [list of stakeholders]
- Presentation Date: [scheduled/completed]
- Stakeholder Feedback: [summary of key feedback points]
- Approved Remediation Plan: [approved/needs revision]

Action Items and Ownership:
- [Action 1]: [owner] - Timeline: [date] - Priority: [high/medium/low]
- [Action 2]: [owner] - Timeline: [date] - Priority: [high/medium/low]
- [Action 3]: [owner] - Timeline: [date] - Priority: [high/medium/low]

Follow-up Validation Plan:
- Re-validation Schedule: [timeline]
- Scope of Re-validation: [full/partial/targeted]
- Success Criteria: [specific criteria for passing re-validation]
- Continuous Improvement: [ongoing monitoring plan]

Constitutional Compliance Certificate:
- Framework Version: [version]
- Validation Date: [date]
- Compliance Status: [status]
- Audit Trail: [complete/available]
- Next Review Date: [scheduled date]

Validation Process Complete: [yes/pending follow-up]
```

## Phase 5: Continuous Improvement and Learning

### 5.1 Validation Process Assessment
**Agent**: SEAD QA
- Assess effectiveness of checklist and validation process
- Identify opportunities for checklist improvement
- Document lessons learned and best practices
- Update validation methodologies based on experience

### 5.2 Knowledge Capture and Sharing
**Agent**: SEAD QA + Domain-Specific Agents
- Document validation insights and patterns for future reference
- Create guidance for similar validations and common issues
- Share learnings with team for process improvement
- Update constitutional framework based on validation experience

## Success Criteria

- [ ] **Complete Checklist Execution**: All checklist items systematically evaluated with evidence
- [ ] **Constitutional Compliance**: Full integration with SEAD governance framework throughout
- [ ] **Quality Standards**: Validation conducted according to mode-appropriate standards
- [ ] **Evidence-Based Assessment**: All findings supported by specific evidence and rationale
- [ ] **Actionable Recommendations**: Clear, specific recommendations with ownership and timelines
- [ ] **Stakeholder Communication**: Effective communication of findings and remediation plans
- [ ] **Continuous Improvement**: Process improvements identified and implemented

## Output Artifacts

1. **Comprehensive Validation Report**: Complete findings, analysis, and recommendations
2. **Constitutional Compliance Certificate**: Formal governance framework compliance status
3. **Remediation Action Plan**: Detailed plan for addressing identified issues
4. **Executive Summary**: Stakeholder-focused summary of key findings and actions
5. **Process Improvement Recommendations**: Suggestions for enhancing future validations

## Mode Considerations

- **Prototype Mode**: Relaxed validation standards with focus on learning and rapid iteration
- **Development Mode**: Balanced validation with reasonable quality gates and collaborative improvement
- **Build-to-Deploy Mode**: Rigorous validation with strict quality gates and comprehensive documentation

## Anti-Patterns to Avoid

- **Checklist Theater**: Going through motions without meaningful quality assessment
- **Evidence-Free Assessment**: Making status decisions without supporting evidence
- **Constitutional Bypass**: Skipping governance framework integration and compliance
- **Stakeholder Exclusion**: Completing validation without appropriate stakeholder engagement
- **Action-Free Reporting**: Identifying issues without actionable remediation plans
- **Process Rigidity**: Applying checklist mechanically without context or judgment

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**Note**: This workflow requires SEAD QA agent coordination with appropriate domain-specific agents based on checklist requirements. Constitutional framework integration and stakeholder engagement are mandatory throughout the validation process.