Valid JSON Is Not Yet a Reliable Handoff

A useful lesson from reasoning through structured outputs: being parseable is not the same as being ready for the next step. A response can be valid JSON and still omit the owner, completion signal or exception the receiving workflow needs.

Imagine an assistant returning a support request as structured data. Check it in layers: first, can the output be parsed? Next, does it match the agreed fields and types? Finally, does the content make sense for the intended handoff—for example, is there a named owner when review is required?

If a check fails, route the item to a clear pause or correction path rather than letting missing information silently become someone else’s problem. That makes the contract useful to both the system and the person who must act on it. More fields are not automatically better; each should clarify a decision or responsibility.