diff --git a/src/main/java/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM.java b/src/main/java/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM.java
index b67853e..2048686 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM.java
@@ -66,15 +66,18 @@ public class ConversationFSM {
         } else {
             String stateTransitionTask = "Decide the next conversation state based on this message: " + message.getContent() + 
                                          "\nCurrent state: " + currentState +
-                                         "\nParticipants: " + participants;
+                                         "\nParticipants: " + participants +
+                                         "\nPossible states: " + Arrays.toString(ConversationState.values());
             
             String reasoning = model.generate(stateTransitionTask, null);
             
             String decisionPrompt = "Based on this reasoning:\n" + reasoning + 
-                                    "\nProvide the next conversation state (DISCUSSION, TASK_ASSIGNMENT, EXECUTION, or CONCLUSION).";
+                                    "\nProvide the next conversation state. Choose from: " + 
+                                    Arrays.toString(ConversationState.values()) +
+                                    "\nResponse format: STATE: <state_name>";
             String response = model.generate(decisionPrompt, null);
             
-            ConversationState newState = ConversationState.valueOf(response.trim());
+            ConversationState newState = parseStateFromResponse(response);
             transitionTo(newState);
             
             // Broadcast the message to all participants
@@ -85,10 +88,24 @@ public class ConversationFSM {
             }
 
             webSocketService.sendUpdate("conversation_message", message);
-
         }
     }
 
+    private ConversationState parseStateFromResponse(String response) {
+        String[] parts = response.split(":");
+        if (parts.length > 1) {
+            String stateName = parts[1].trim().toUpperCase();
+            try {
+                return ConversationState.valueOf(stateName);
+            } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
+                System.out.println("Invalid state name: " + stateName + ". Defaulting to DISCUSSION.");
+                return ConversationState.DISCUSSION;
+            }
+        }
+        System.out.println("Could not parse state from response: " + response + ". Defaulting to DISCUSSION.");
+        return ConversationState.DISCUSSION;
+    }
+    
     private void handleVote(String agentId) {
         votes.put(agentId, true);
         checkVotes();
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationState.java b/src/main/java/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationState.java
index b8921b4..470d24d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationState.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationState.java
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 package com.ioa.conversation;
 
 public enum ConversationState {
-    DISCUSSION, TASK_ASSIGNMENT, EXECUTION, CONCLUSION
+    DISCUSSION,
+    TASK_GATHERING_INFO,
+    TASK_ASSIGNMENT,
+    EXECUTION,
+    CONCLUSION
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM$ConversationStateUpdate.class b/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM$ConversationStateUpdate.class
index 49bea4b..7d069d0 100644
Binary files a/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM$ConversationStateUpdate.class and b/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM$ConversationStateUpdate.class differ
diff --git a/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM.class b/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM.class
index 186c4a5..7850dc0 100644
Binary files a/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM.class and b/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationFSM.class differ
diff --git a/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationState.class b/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationState.class
index 588ae27..ce8022f 100644
Binary files a/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationState.class and b/target/classes/com/ioa/conversation/ConversationState.class differ