Upon receiving a task from my supervisor, I would make sure the following items (are/to be???) clarified:
1. The bottomline requirement of the task
2. The deadline of the task
3. The escalation list for the task
4. The level of (authority/authorization???) in which I can make my own judgement
After each of the above items (are/have been???) clarified, so that I (can/could???) start (planning/to plan???) the schedule and the breakdown of the task.