5W1H Decision Framework - Systematic Decision Making

Core Principles

Decision Philosophy: Think Before Act

Principle	Description	Validation
Systematic Thinking	Every decision requires 5W1H analysis	All 6 questions answered
No Duplication	Check existing implementation first	Who analysis complete
No Avoidance	Reject escape language	Why validation passed
Agile Compliance	Executor/Dispatcher separation	How task type matched
TDD Integration	Test-first strategy required	How includes TDD steps

Key Files

File	Purpose
.claude/output-styles/5w1h-format.md	System-level format enforcement
.claude/methodologies/5w1h-self-awareness-methodology.md	Complete methodology
.claude/methodologies/agile-refactor-methodology.md	Agent collaboration rules
.claude/methodologies/claude-self-check-methodology.md	Avoidance language detection
CLAUDE.md	Project development guidelines

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5W1H Framework Quick Reference

Who (Responsibility Attribution)

Format (Agile Refactor Compliant):

Who: {Executor Agent} (executor) | {Dispatcher} (dispatcher)

Valid Patterns:

Scenario	Who Format
Agent implements code	parsley-flutter-developer (executor) | rosemary-project-manager (dispatcher)
Main thread dispatches	rosemary-project-manager (self-execute - dispatch/review)
Documentation agent	thyme-documentation-integrator (executor) | rosemary-project-manager (dispatcher)

Checks:

• Searched existing Domain for duplicate functionality
• Verified Service layer implementation
• Confirmed test coverage
• Executor matches task type

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What (Function Definition)

Single Responsibility Verification:

What: [Function Name]
- Description: [One sentence description]
- Input: [Explicit input types]
- Output: [Explicit output types]
- Exception: [Error handling]

Checks:

• Single responsibility (one sentence description)
• Clear input/output definition
• No overlap with existing functions
• Can write Given-When-Then test

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When (Trigger Timing)

Event-Driven Format:

When: [Event Name]
- Trigger: [User action / System event]
- Event: [EventName]
- Side Effects: [List all side effects]
- Integration: [Event system integration point]

Checks:

• Clear trigger event identified
• Side effects fully documented
• Integration with Event-Driven Architecture

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Where (Execution Location)

Architecture Layer Format:

Where: [Layer] / [Component]
- Architecture: [Domain/Application/Infrastructure/Presentation]
- Component: [Specific class or module]
- UseCase: [UseCase call chain]
- Call Path: UI -> UseCase -> Domain -> Service

Checks:

• Correct Clean Architecture layer
• DDD aggregate boundary respected
• UseCase path traceable

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Why (Motivation Validation)

Requirement Traceability Format:

Why: [Requirement Reference]
- Requirement ID: [UC-XXX]
- Business Value: [User benefit]
- User Scenario: [Specific use case]
- Document: [docs/app-requirements-spec.md#UC-XXX]

Avoidance Language Detection (BLOCKED):

Category	Blocked Phrases
Quality Compromise	"too complex", "workaround", "temporary fix", "quick fix"
Simplification	"simpler approach", "easier way", "simplify"
Problem Ignoring	"ignore for now", "skip for now", "deal with later"
Test Compromise	"simplify test", "lower test standard", "basic test only"
Code Escape	"comment out", "disable", "temporarily disable"

Checks:

• Has requirement document reference
• Clear business value stated
• No avoidance language detected

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How (Implementation Strategy)

Task Type Format (Required):

How: [Task Type: {TYPE}] {Strategy Description}

Task Types and Valid Executors:

Task Type	Valid Executor	Description
Implementation	Agent (parsley, sage, etc.)	Code implementation
Dispatch	Main Thread (rosemary)	Task assignment
Review	Main Thread (rosemary)	Acceptance check
Documentation	thyme / rosemary	Document updates
Analysis	lavender / rosemary	Problem analysis
Planning	rosemary / lavender	Strategy planning

Violation Detection:

Who Executor	How Task Type	Result
rosemary-project-manager	Implementation	BLOCKED
parsley-flutter-developer	Dispatch	BLOCKED
Any agent	Implementation	ALLOWED
rosemary-project-manager	Dispatch/Review	ALLOWED

Checks:

• TDD test-first strategy
• Task Type matches executor
• No architectural debt introduced
• No temporary solutions

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Complete 5W1H Template

5W1H-{YYYYMMDD}-{HHMMSS}-{random}

Who: {agent} (executor) | rosemary-project-manager (dispatcher)
- Domain: {Responsible class/module}
- Existing: {Search result for duplicates}

What: {Function Name}
- Description: {One sentence}
- Input: {Types}
- Output: {Types}

When: {Event Trigger}
- Trigger: {User action / System event}
- Side Effects: {List}

Where: {Layer / Component}
- Architecture: {Clean Architecture layer}
- UseCase: {Call chain}

Why: {Requirement}
- Requirement ID: {UC-XXX}
- Business Value: {User benefit}

How: [Task Type: {TYPE}] {Strategy}
1. Write failing test
2. Implement to pass test
3. Refactor
4. Integration verification

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Common Violations and Fixes

Violation 1: Missing Executor/Dispatcher

// VIOLATION
Who: parsley-flutter-developer
- Implement ISBN validation

// FIX
Who: parsley-flutter-developer (executor) | rosemary-project-manager (dispatcher)
- Domain: BookValidator in Book Aggregate
- Existing: Searched, no duplicate found

Violation 2: Missing Task Type

// VIOLATION
How: TDD implementation strategy
1. Write test
2. Implement

// FIX
How: [Task Type: Implementation] TDD implementation strategy
1. Write failing test for ISBN validation
2. Implement BookValidator.validateISBN()
3. Refactor for readability
4. Integrate with AddBookUseCase

Violation 3: Main Thread Doing Implementation

// VIOLATION
Who: rosemary-project-manager (self-execute)
How: [Task Type: Implementation] Build Domain event classes

// FIX
Who: parsley-flutter-developer (executor) | rosemary-project-manager (dispatcher)
How: [Task Type: Implementation] Build Domain event classes

Violation 4: Avoidance Language

// VIOLATION
Why: Need to simplify the complex validation
- Using a simpler approach for now

// FIX
Why: UC-001 Book Addition Requirement
- Requirement ID: UC-001
- Business Value: Ensure user input data format correctness
- User Scenario: User manually inputs ISBN and needs immediate validation

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Token Generation

Session Token Format

5W1H-{YYYYMMDD}-{HHMMSS}-{random}
Example: 5W1H-20250925-191735-a7b3c2

Generate Token Script

# Generate new session token
uv run .claude/skills/5w1h-decision/scripts/generate_token.py

# Validate 5W1H content
uv run .claude/skills/5w1h-decision/scripts/validate_5w1h.py "content"

Hook Integration

The 5W1H checker is integrated into PreToolUse Hook:

• Checks before TodoWrite operations
• Validates all 6 W/H sections present
• Detects avoidance language
• Validates agile refactor compliance

Output Style Integration (System-Level Enforcement)

Since v0.25.1, 5W1H format is enforced at the system level via Output Style:

File Location: .claude/output-styles/5w1h-format.md

Enforcement Mechanism:

• Output Style is injected into Claude's system prompt
• Every response MUST follow the 5W1H format structure
• No manual activation required - always active

Relationship with Other Mechanisms:

Mechanism	Level	Purpose	Enforcement
Output Style	System	Response format structure	Automatic (system prompt)
PreToolUse Hook	Tool	Todo creation validation	Before TodoWrite
UserPromptSubmit Hook	Session	Token generation + reminder	Each user input
SKILL	Reference	Documentation + scripts	On-demand

Key Advantage:

• Output Style provides consistent format enforcement without relying on Hook execution
• Even if Hooks fail, Claude still follows the format due to system-level injection

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Checklist Before Todo Creation

Completeness Check

• Who: Executor/Dispatcher clearly identified, no duplicate implementation
• What: Single responsibility, clear I/O definition
• When: Trigger timing explicit, side effects identified
• Where: Correct architecture layer, UseCase path clear
• Why: Requirement reference, no avoidance language
• How: Task Type present, TDD strategy, matches executor

Agile Refactor Compliance Check

• Who has (executor) | (dispatcher) format
• How has [Task Type: XXX] prefix
• Implementation tasks assigned to agents (not main thread)
• Dispatch/Review tasks assigned to main thread

Quality Gate

ALL items must be checked before creating todo.

Missing any item = BLOCKED

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Related Documentation

Methodologies

• 5W1H Self-Awareness Methodology
• Agile Refactor Methodology
• Claude Self-Check Methodology

Project Files

• CLAUDE.md - Project guidelines
• Agent Collaboration - Agent rules

Scripts (in this SKILL)

• Token Generator
• 5W1H Validator

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Quick Reference Card

Required Format

5W1H-{TOKEN}

Who: {agent} (executor) | rosemary-project-manager (dispatcher)
What: {Single responsibility function}
When: {Event trigger with side effects}
Where: {Architecture layer / Component}
Why: {Requirement ID + Business value}
How: [Task Type: {TYPE}] {TDD strategy steps}

Task Type Quick Reference

Type	Executor	Example
Implementation	parsley, sage, pepper	Write code
Dispatch	rosemary	Assign task
Review	rosemary	Accept deliverable
Documentation	thyme	Update docs
Analysis	lavender	Design analysis
Planning	rosemary	Strategy planning

Avoidance Detection Keywords

Block	Reason
"too complex"	Escaping difficulty
"simpler approach"	Compromising quality
"for now"	Temporary solution
"skip"	Avoiding problem
"later"	Deferring issue