A search leader, with subject matter expertise, directs each team of searchers. Initial keyword searching determines the relevant IPC/ECLA codes which are next searched in detail with or (if feasible) without keywords (depending on the record size within each classification).
A search report will include a list of the most relevant 10-20 patent numbers which are annotated to indicate why each is important and then listed in order of decreasing relevance.
We need a description of the invention for a novelty search; a patent application or statement of intended claims for an infringement search; and a patent number for a validity search.