Student Guide
Module 09
The Compound Workflow
Chain multiple Claude interactions into a pipeline: Gather, Analyze, Synthesize, Deliver. A competitive intelligence brief that takes a human analyst half a day, built in fifteen minutes of structured prompting.
Charter Oak Strategic Partners · Claude Mastery Program
- The four-step compound workflow pattern: Gather, Analyze, Synthesize, Deliver
- How to chain Claude interactions into a pipeline where each step feeds the next
- Where to place a human-in-the-loop checkpoint
- How to calculate ROI for automated workflows
The Four-Step Pattern
A compound workflow links multiple Claude interactions into a pipeline. Each step produces output that becomes input for the next. The pattern is always the same:
| Step | Action | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gather | Research, data collection, document review | Extract claims from a competitor press release |
| 2. Analyze | Compare, evaluate, categorize, calculate | Compare competitor claims against your product specs |
| 3. Synthesize | Decide, recommend, strategize | Recommend three positioning strategies |
| 4. Deliver | Format for the audience who needs it | Format as a one-page sales battlecard |
This structure maps onto almost any complex business task: competitive intelligence briefs, quarterly reviews, onboarding plans, product launches. The specifics change. The shape does not.
Demo Scenario: Competitive Intelligence
Greenfield Manufacturing’s competitor Apex Industrial announces SmartFloor. The four-step pipeline builds a competitive response:
Feed Claude the Apex press release. Extract key claims, pricing, features, target market.
Compare extracted claims against FloorWatch specs. Where does Greenfield win? Where does Apex?
Strategy recommendations involve judgment. Validate before they become a sales battlecard.
Three positioning strategies: features to lead with, claims to counter, segments to defend.
Format as a one-page battlecard for sales calls. 15 minutes of prompt crafting. Half a day of analyst work saved.
Exercise: Build a Workflow
Instructions: Groups of three or four. Identify a real recurring task from your team that currently takes hours. Then:
- Design a four-step workflow (Gather, Analyze, Synthesize, Deliver)
- Write all four prompts
- Test the chain — does each step’s output feed the next?
- Document: what goes in, what comes out, where a human reviews
Targets: What takes the most time? What involves the most copying and pasting between tools? What produces a deliverable your boss looks at for 30 seconds after you spent four hours creating it?
For your workflow: how many hours per week does it save? Multiply by 52 for annual hours. Multiply by the fully loaded hourly cost ($50–$75). That annual value is a proposal, not a demo.
Reflection
Questions to Consider
- Where in your four-step workflow should a human review before continuing?
- What is the annual dollar value of the time your workflow saves?
- What other recurring tasks follow the gather/analyze/synthesize/deliver pattern?
The Pattern
Gather → Analyze → Synthesize → Deliver. Every compound workflow follows this shape.
Human-in-the-Loop
Between analysis and strategy. Facts are verifiable. Strategy involves judgment.
Scope Rule
Four steps max. If your task has more, you have two workflows. Build the first chain. Get it working.