Quick-Path

What It Is

The quick-path is a streamlined variant of the six-stage software factory for tasks where the research phase is unnecessary—typically bug fixes, small feature additions, or any work where the requirements are already well-understood and don't need discovery.

Key Patterns / Components

Path Comparison

Full Pipeline Quick-Path
Intake Intake
Research (CIS) ~~skipped~~
Planning Planning
Implementation Implementation
Testing (TEA) Testing (TEA)
Release Release

When to Use

  • Bug fixes with clear reproduction steps
  • Small feature additions with existing specs
  • Well-understood technical debt items
  • Tasks where the research-lead would return NOT-READY unnecessarily

Decision Criteria

The Kelly Router determines whether a task qualifies for quick-path based on:
- Whether the problem is already well-scoped
- Whether prior research exists in the project
- Whether the intake includes sufficient context to proceed without discovery

How It Applies to Marketing Factory

Marketing quick-path applies to routine deliverables with established templates: a recurring social post, a standard newsletter format, a routine campaign report. Skip strategy research and go straight to execution. The gate decision happens at the planning stage instead.