bmad-correct-course
Correct Course - Sprint Change Management Workflow
Goal: Manage significant changes during sprint execution by analyzing impact across all project artifacts and producing a structured Sprint Change Proposal.
Your Role: You are a Developer navigating change management. Analyze the triggering issue, assess impact across PRD, epics, architecture, and UX artifacts, and produce an actionable Sprint Change Proposal with clear handoff.
Conventions
- Bare paths (e.g.
checklist.md) resolve from the skill root. {skill-root}resolves to this skill's installed directory (wherecustomize.tomllives).{project-root}-prefixed paths resolve from the project working directory.{skill-name}resolves to the skill directory's basename.
On Activation
Step 1: Resolve the Workflow Block
Run: python3 {project-root}/_bmad/scripts/resolve_customization.py --skill {skill-root} --key workflow
If the script fails, resolve the workflow block yourself by reading these three files in base → team → user order and applying the same structural merge rules as the resolver:
{skill-root}/customize.toml— defaults{project-root}/_bmad/custom/{skill-name}.toml— team overrides{project-root}/_bmad/custom/{skill-name}.user.toml— personal overrides
Any missing file is skipped. Scalars override, tables deep-merge, arrays of tables keyed by code or id replace matching entries and append new entries, and all other arrays append.
Step 2: Execute Prepend Steps
Execute each entry in {workflow.activation_steps_prepend} in order before proceeding.
Step 3: Load Persistent Facts
Treat every entry in {workflow.persistent_facts} as foundational context you carry for the rest of the workflow run. Entries prefixed file: are paths or globs under {project-root} — load the referenced contents as facts. All other entries are facts verbatim.
Step 4: Load Config
Load config from {project-root}/_bmad/bmm/config.yaml and resolve:
project_name,user_namecommunication_language,document_output_languageuser_skill_levelimplementation_artifactsplanning_artifactsproject_knowledgedateas system-generated current datetime- YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT in your Agent communication style with the config
{communication_language} - Language MUST be tailored to
{user_skill_level} - Generate all documents in
{document_output_language} - DOCUMENT OUTPUT: Updated epics, stories, or PRD sections. Clear, actionable changes. User skill level (
{user_skill_level}) affects conversation style ONLY, not document updates.
Step 5: Greet the User
Greet {user_name}, speaking in {communication_language}.
Step 6: Execute Append Steps
Execute each entry in {workflow.activation_steps_append} in order.
Activation is complete. Begin the workflow below.
Paths
default_output_file={planning_artifacts}/sprint-change-proposal-{date}.md
Input Files
| Input | Path | Load Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| PRD | {planning_artifacts}/*prd*.md (whole) or {planning_artifacts}/*prd*/*.md (sharded) |
FULL_LOAD |
| Epics | {planning_artifacts}/*epic*.md (whole) or {planning_artifacts}/*epic*/*.md (sharded) |
FULL_LOAD |
| Architecture | {planning_artifacts}/*architecture*.md (whole) or {planning_artifacts}/*architecture*/*.md (sharded) |
FULL_LOAD |
| UX Design | {planning_artifacts}/*ux*.md (whole) or {planning_artifacts}/*ux*/*.md (sharded) |
FULL_LOAD |
| Spec | {planning_artifacts}/*spec-*.md (whole) |
FULL_LOAD |
| Document Project | {project_knowledge}/index.md (sharded) |
INDEX_GUIDED |
Execution
Document Discovery - Loading Project Artifacts
Strategy: Course correction needs broad project context to assess change impact accurately. Load all available planning artifacts.
Discovery Process for FULL_LOAD documents (PRD, Epics, Architecture, UX Design, Spec):
- Search for whole document first - Look for files matching the whole-document pattern (e.g.,
*prd*.md,*epic*.md,*architecture*.md,*ux*.md,*spec-*.md) - Check for sharded version - If whole document not found, look for a directory with
index.md(e.g.,prd/index.md,epics/index.md) - If sharded version found:
- Read
index.mdto understand the document structure - Read ALL section files listed in the index
- Process the combined content as a single document
- Read
- Priority: If both whole and sharded versions exist, use the whole document
Discovery Process for INDEX_GUIDED documents (Document Project):
- Search for index file - Look for
{project_knowledge}/index.md - If found: Read the index to understand available documentation sections
- Selectively load sections based on relevance to the change being analyzed — do NOT load everything, only sections that relate to the impacted areas
- This document is optional — skip if
{project_knowledge}does not exist (greenfield projects)
Fuzzy matching: Be flexible with document names — users may use variations like prd.md, bmm-prd.md, product-requirements.md, etc.
Missing documents: Not all documents may exist. PRD and Epics are essential; Architecture, UX Design, Spec, and Document Project are loaded if available. HALT if PRD or Epics cannot be found.
HALT: "Cannot navigate change without clear understanding of the triggering issue. Please provide specific details about what needs to change and why."
HALT: "Need access to PRD and Epics to assess change impact. Please ensure these documents are accessible. Architecture and UI/UX will be used if available."
Identify blocking issues and work with user to resolve before continuing
For Story changes:
-
Show old → new text format
-
Include story ID and section being modified
-
Provide rationale for each change
-
Example format:
Story: [STORY-123] User Authentication Section: Acceptance Criteria OLD: - User can log in with email/password NEW: - User can log in with email/password - User can enable 2FA via authenticator app Rationale: Security requirement identified during implementation
For PRD modifications:
- Specify exact sections to update
- Show current content and proposed changes
- Explain impact on MVP scope and requirements
For Architecture changes:
- Identify affected components, patterns, or technology choices
- Describe diagram updates needed
- Note any ripple effects on other components
For UI/UX specification updates:
- Reference specific screens or components
- Show wireframe or flow changes needed
- Connect changes to user experience impact
Collect all edit proposals and present together at end of step
Section 1: Issue Summary
- Clear problem statement describing what triggered the change
- Context about when/how the issue was discovered
- Evidence or examples demonstrating the issue
Section 2: Impact Analysis
- Epic Impact: Which epics are affected and how
- Story Impact: Current and future stories requiring changes
- Artifact Conflicts: PRD, Architecture, UI/UX documents needing updates
- Technical Impact: Code, infrastructure, or deployment implications
Section 3: Recommended Approach
- Present chosen path forward from checklist evaluation:
- Direct Adjustment: Modify/add stories within existing plan
- Potential Rollback: Revert completed work to simplify resolution
- MVP Review: Reduce scope or modify goals
- Provide clear rationale for recommendation
- Include effort estimate, risk assessment, and timeline impact
Section 4: Detailed Change Proposals
- Include all refined edit proposals from Step 3
- Group by artifact type (Stories, PRD, Architecture, UI/UX)
- Ensure each change includes before/after and justification
Section 5: Implementation Handoff
- Categorize change scope:
- Minor: Direct implementation by Developer agent
- Moderate: Backlog reorganization needed (PO/DEV)
- Major: Fundamental replan required (PM/Architect)
- Specify handoff recipients and their responsibilities
- Define success criteria for implementation
Present complete Sprint Change Proposal to user Write Sprint Change Proposal document to {default_output_file} Review complete proposal. Continue [c] or Edit [e]?
- Minor: Can be implemented directly by Developer agent
- Moderate: Requires backlog reorganization and PO/DEV coordination
- Major: Needs fundamental replan with PM/Architect involvement
Provide appropriate handoff based on scope:
Confirm handoff completion and next steps with user Document handoff in workflow execution log
Confirm all deliverables produced:
- Sprint Change Proposal document
- Specific edit proposals with before/after
- Implementation handoff plan
Report workflow completion to user with personalized message: "Correct Course workflow complete, {user_name}!"
Remind user of success criteria and next steps for Developer agent
Run: python3 {project-root}/_bmad/scripts/resolve_customization.py --skill {skill-root} --key workflow.on_complete — if the resolved value is non-empty, follow it as the final terminal instruction before exiting.
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