AI Agent & Copilot Podcast: Moving from Prompts to Outcomes with Microsoft Cowork
In this episode of the AI Agent & Copilot Podcast, Shawn Dorward explains why moving from prompts to outcomes means giving Microsoft CoworkĀ a clear objective, boundaries, and definition of success so it can determine the work plan.
Key Takeaways
- From prompting to outcomes: Successful use of Cowork requires shifting from prompt-by-prompt interactions to outcome-based assignments, where you define the business objective and let AI analyze, connect, and deliver the full set of insights and outputs needed to achieve it. Specifically, an outcome-based assignment lets AI handle theĀ end-to-endĀ analysisĀ andĀ deliverablesĀ byĀ focusingĀ onĀ theĀ desiredĀ businessĀ outcome.
- Defining the outcome: Asking AI to create an output, like a presentation, is not the same as defining the business outcome you want to achieve; the outcome provides the context and purpose needed for analysis and recommendations. To get the best results from Cowork, define the desired outcome rather than just requesting an output.
- Effective delegation: The key to effective Cowork delegation is to focus on the desired outcome rather than prescribing every step, giving it the freedom to determine the best path. A strong assignment clearly definesĀ what needs to be accomplished, why it matters, the level of authority, and what should be delivered when complete.
- Cowork as a coworker: Shawn explains that the shift from traditional prompts to outcome-based assignments means treating AI like a coworker: define the outcome, review and guide its approach, and provide feedback without having to specify every step upfront.
- Feedback loop: As AI becomes better at execution,Ā clarity of direction becomes important. A key skill is not writing longer prompts, but understanding what work needs to be done, why it matters, what success looks like, and giving AI room to determine how to get there.
