# Question about using a custom LLM Manager in a hierarchical setup **URL:** \ **Category:** CrewAI Community Support\ **Created:** [June 5, 2025, 9:10am UTC](https://community.crewai.com/t/question-about-using-a-custom-llm-manager-in-a-hierarchical-setup/6114 "2025-06-05T09:10:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![simone\_russo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.crewai.com/simone_russo/32/3485_2.png) [@simone\_russo](https://community.crewai.com/u/simone_russo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 9:10am UTC](https://community.crewai.com/t/question-about-using-a-custom-llm-manager-in-a-hierarchical-setup/6114/1 "2025-06-05T09:10:51Z")
Hi everyone! I’m currently studying how to use a **custom LLM manager** in a **hierarchical setup** , and I’ve been experimenting with an implementation based on the official documentation. In my exercise, I created a manager agent that coordinates two other agents. Here’s the code: ``` from crewai import Agent, Task, Crew, Process from crewai.project import CrewBase, agent, task, crew from dotenv import load_dotenv @CrewBase class ProductionCrew(): def __init__ (self): load_dotenv("../.env") @agent def creative_agent(self) -> Agent: return Agent( config=self.agents_config["creative_agent"], #verbose=True ) @agent def budget_agent(self) -> Agent: return Agent( config=self.agents_config["budget_agent"], #verbose=True ) @agent def manager_agent(self) -> Agent: return Agent( config=self.agents_config["manager_agent"], #verbose=True, allow_delegation=True ) @task def concept_task(self) -> Task: return Task( config=self.tasks_config["concept_task"] ) @task def budget_task(self) -> Task: return Task( config=self.tasks_config["budget_task"] ) @crew def crew(self) -> Crew: return Crew( agents=[self.creative_agent(), self.budget_agent()], tasks=[self.concept_task(), self.budget_task()], manager_agent=self.manager_agent(), process=Process.hierarchical, verbose = True ) def run(self): try: self.crew().kickoff() except: raise Exception(f"Errore durante l'esecuzione della crew: {e}") ``` agents.yaml ``` creative_agent: role: > Creative Writer goal: > Come up with an original concept for a short film backstory: > Experienced screenwriter with a background in independent cinema. llm: together_ai/meta-llama/Llama-3.3-70B-Instruct-Turbo-Free temperature: 0.7 budget_agent: role: > Film Budget Analyst goal: > Estimate the budget for the production of the short film backstory: > Specialist in film production with a focus on cost control. llm: together_ai/meta-llama/Llama-3.3-70B-Instruct-Turbo-Free temperature: 0.7 manager_agent: role: > Production Manager goal: > Coordinate pre-production and present a complete package backstory: > Production manager with experience in complex film projects. llm: together_ai/meta-llama/Llama-3.3-70B-Instruct-Turbo-Free temperature: 0.7 ``` tasks.yaml ``` concept_task: description: > Write an original synopsis for a short film. Include: theme, brief plot, setting, and main characters. expected_output: > Synopsis and setting, maximum 300 words agent: creative_agent budget_task: description: > Estimate a rough budget to produce the short film, considering: cast, location, visual effects, equipment, and post-production. expected_output: > Summary table with items and estimated costs agent: budget_agent ``` In the documentation, the example shows **a single task** shared between **two agents** , while I’ve taken a different approach by assigning **a specific task to each agent**. Also, in the docs, the task isn’t explicitly assigned to any agent, whereas I’ve done so directly in my code. I’d love to get some clarification on a few points: 1. **Is it a good practice to assign tasks explicitly** to individual agents in a hierarchical structure with a custom manager? 2. **What are the best practices** in this kind of setup? Should tasks be kept generic and let the manager decide who handles them? 3. When using a custom LLM manager, how much autonomy should it have in assigning and managing tasks? Any insights or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance Edit: Additionally, the output I was expecting was a **combination of the work done by both agents** —that is, the movie plot and a cost estimate. However, the output I’m getting from the crew includes **only the cost estimate**. **Expected output:** ``` Title: ... Plot: ... Estimated Costs: ... ``` **Actual output:** ``` | Category | Estimated Cost | |------------------|------------------------| | Cast | $25,000 - $55,000 | | Location | $15,000 - $30,000 | | Visual Effects | $17,000 - $35,000 | | Equipment | $12,000 - $24,000 | | Post-Production | $18,000 - $36,000 | | Total Budget | $87,000 - $180,000 | ``` Edit 2: Another question is: does it make sense to create a task for the manager? Or is it correct to leave the manager without any tasks? ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Wood](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.crewai.com/tony_wood/32/1876_2.png) [@Tony\_Wood](https://community.crewai.com/u/Tony_Wood)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2025, 6:00am UTC](https://community.crewai.com/t/question-about-using-a-custom-llm-manager-in-a-hierarchical-setup/6114/2 "2025-06-08T06:00:31Z")
great question. From first look I would look at increasing the context around your task. There is a 80 / 20 rule.. 20% of your time on the Agent and 80% on the task This might be useful [Crafting Effective Agents - CrewAI](https://docs.crewai.com/guides/agents/crafting-effective-agents) I like to reread the docs here from time to time [Overview - CrewAI](https://docs.crewai.com/learn/overview) as they help me refine my crews… Also look at the awesome release notes in announcements as things like Reasoning were added and they make a big difference