document-selection

Document Type Selection

This skill helps choose the right Metis document type for different kinds of work.

Quick Decision Guide

Is this work, or is it a decision?

• Decision about architecture/approach → ADR
• Work to be done → Continue below

Does this define WHY the project exists?

• Yes → Vision

Does this coordinate multiple capability increments?

• Yes → Strategy (if Full preset enabled)

Does this create a fundamental capability increment?

• Yes → Initiative

Is this a discrete, completable piece of work?

• Yes, belongs to an initiative → Task
• Yes, standalone (bug/feature/debt) → Backlog Item

Document Types Reference

Type	Purpose	Parent Required
Vision	North star objectives	No
Strategy	Coordinated approaches	Vision (published)
Initiative	Capability increments	Strategy/Vision (published)
Task	Atomic work units	Initiative (decompose/active phase)
Backlog Item	Ad-hoc bugs/features/debt	No
ADR	Architectural decisions	No

Parent phase guidance:

• Initiatives are typically created under a published vision
• Tasks are typically created under an initiative in decompose or active phase
• reassign_parent enforces initiative phase (must be decompose/active)

User Terminology Mapping

When users request work items using common terms, map to Metis document types:

User Says	Create
"bug ticket", "bug", "defect"	create_document(type="task", backlog_category="bug", ...)
"feature ticket", "feature request"	create_document(type="task", backlog_category="feature", ...)
"tech debt ticket", "tech debt"	create_document(type="task", backlog_category="tech-debt", ...)
"project", "epic", "feature work"	Initiative (with parent)
"work item", "ticket"	Task (if has parent) or Backlog Item (if standalone)

When to Create Each Type

Vision

Create when:

• Starting a new project
• Redefining project direction
• Current vision no longer represents objectives

Not a vision: "Build feature X" (initiative), "Fix bugs" (operational), "Q1 goals" (strategy or initiatives)

Strategy

Create when (Full preset only):

• Multiple teams need coordination
• Competing approaches to pursue
• Resource allocation needs decisions
• Strategic trade-offs should be documented

Fields:

• stakeholders - List of stakeholders involved
• risk_level - One of: low, medium, high, critical (defaults to medium)

Not a strategy: Single project (initiative), a decision (ADR), a wish list (backlog)

Initiative

Create when:

• Work delivers meaningful capability increment
• Multiple tasks needed
• Discovery/design phases valuable
• Track as distinct project

Not an initiative: Single task, ongoing operations (backlog), aspiration without commitment (keep in backlog)

Task

Create when:

• Clear parent initiative exists
• Discrete, completable unit
• One person can own it
• Done criteria are clear

Not a task: Work with no parent (backlog item), work too large (break down or make initiative)

Backlog Item

Create when:

• Bug discovered in production
• Feature request not tied to initiative
• Tech debt to address when capacity allows
• Operational/maintenance work

Categories: bug, feature, tech-debt

Moving backlog items: Use reassign_parent to move a backlog item into an initiative, or move a task back to backlog.

ADR

Create when:

• Making significant architectural decision
• Choosing between meaningful alternatives
• Decision affects multiple initiatives
• Future developers will wonder "why?"

Not an ADR: Trivial decisions, work to be done (task/initiative), meeting notes

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Problem	Fix
Task that takes months	Wrong granularity	If it has subtasks, make it an initiative
Initiative for every idea	Overhead	Use backlog items, promote when committed
Strategy for single project	Wrong level	Strategy coordinates multiple initiatives
ADR for implementation	Confusion	ADR records decision; tasks implement it

Edge Cases

Task vs Initiative: Does it need discovery/design phases? If yes, initiative.

Initiative vs Backlog: Committing to it now? If no, backlog.

Backlog vs Task: Does it have a parent? If no, backlog.

Cross-cutting work: Create initiative under most relevant parent; tasks can reference other initiatives.

Additional Resources

For detailed decision trees and edge cases:

• references/decision-trees.md - Complete decision framework
• references/when-to-adr.md - ADR-specific guidance