bmad-correct-course

---

name: bmad-correct-course description: 'Assess the impact of a significant change during sprint execution across the PRD, epics, architecture, and UX documents, and produce a sprint change proposal. Use when the user says "correct course" or "propose sprint change"'

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 (where customize.toml lives).
• {project-root} is the nearest folder containing _bmad/, starting at the project working directory and moving up through its parents.
• {skill-name} resolves to the skill directory's basename.

On Activation

Step 1: Resolve the Workflow Block

Run: uv run {project-root}/_bmad/scripts/resolve_customization.py --skill {skill-root} --project-root {project-root} --key workflow

If the script is not found, BMad is not set up here. Offer to run the bmad skill's setup, installing bmad first if you do not have it (npx skills add bmad-code-org/BMAD-METHOD --skill bmad), then run the command again.

If it fails for any other reason, 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:

1. {skill-root}/customize.toml — defaults
2. {project-root}/_bmad/custom/{skill-name}.toml — team overrides
3. {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

Run: uv run {project-root}/_bmad/scripts/resolve_config.py --project-root {project-root} --key core.output_folder --key core.active_initiative

• Script not found, or no output_folder: BMad is not set up here. Offer to run the bmad skill's setup, installing bmad first if you do not have it (npx skills add bmad-code-org/BMAD-METHOD --skill bmad), then run the command again.

• No active_initiative: hand off to the bmad skill to set or create one, then run the command again and continue.

• date as system-generated current datetime

• YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT in your Agent communication style

• DOCUMENT OUTPUT: A Sprint Change Proposal with clear, actionable changes.

Step 5: Greet the User

Greet the user.

Step 6: Execute Append Steps

Execute each entry in {workflow.activation_steps_append} in order.

Activation is complete. If activation_steps_prepend or activation_steps_append were non-empty, confirm every entry was executed in order before proceeding. Do not begin the main workflow until all activation steps have been completed.

Paths

• default_output_file = {output_folder}/{active_initiative}/change-{slug}/change-{slug}.md, {slug} the change's title in kebab-case

Input Files

Look in {output_folder}/{active_initiative}/ first, then {output_folder}/.

Input	Path	Load Strategy
PRD	prd-*/prd-*.md	FULL_LOAD
Architecture	architecture-*/architecture-*.md	FULL_LOAD
UX Design	ux-*/: DESIGN.md and EXPERIENCE.md	FULL_LOAD
Spec	spec-*/spec-*.md and the companions it lists	FULL_LOAD
Project Context	AGENTS.md in the affected repo (the bmad:context block)	FULL_LOAD

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, Architecture, UX Design, Spec):

1. Find each document by type - the folder and main file patterns in Input Files
2. If the main file is an index of section files beside it:
   • Read ALL section files listed in the index
   • Process the combined content as a single document

Discovery Process for Project Context:

1. Read AGENTS.md in the repo the change affects — the block between the bmad:context markers carries the policy, frozen paths, and conventions a course correction must respect.
2. Follow only the pointers that relate to the impacted areas — nested component files or linked rule files listed under "Where things are". Do not load them all.
3. This document is optional — skip if the repo has no AGENTS.md (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. A PRD or a spec is essential; Architecture, UX Design, and Project Context are loaded if available. HALT if neither a PRD nor a spec can be found.

<workflow> <step n="1" goal="Initialize Change Navigation"> <action>Confirm change trigger and gather user description of the issue</action> <action>Ask: "What specific issue or change has been identified that requires navigation?"</action> <action>Verify access to project documents:</action> - PRD (Product Requirements Document) or spec — required - Architecture documentation — optional, load if available - UI/UX specifications — optional, load if available <action>Ask the user to describe the epics and stories the change affects: what each covers and where it stands</action> <action>Ask user for mode preference:</action> - **Incremental** (recommended): Refine each edit collaboratively - **Batch**: Present all changes at once for review <action>Store mode selection for use throughout workflow</action>

<action if="change trigger is unclear">HALT: "Cannot navigate change without clear understanding of the triggering issue. Please provide specific details about what needs to change and why."</action>

<action if="neither a PRD nor a spec is available">HALT: "Need access to a PRD or a spec to assess change impact. Please ensure one is accessible. Architecture and UI/UX will be used if available."</action> </step>

<step n="2" goal="Execute Change Analysis Checklist"> <action>Read fully and follow the systematic analysis from: checklist.md</action> <action>Work through each checklist section interactively with the user</action> <action>Record status for each checklist item:</action> - [x] Done - Item completed successfully - [N/A] Skip - Item not applicable to this change - [!] Action-needed - Item requires attention or follow-up <action>Maintain running notes of findings and impacts discovered</action> <action>Present checklist progress after each major section</action>

<action if="checklist cannot be completed">Identify blocking issues and work with user to resolve before continuing</action> </step>

<step n="3" goal="Draft Specific Change Proposals"> <action>Based on checklist findings, create explicit edit proposals for each identified artifact</action>

<action>For Story changes:</action>

• 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
  

<action>For PRD modifications:</action>

• Specify exact sections to update
• Show current content and proposed changes
• Explain impact on MVP scope and requirements

<action>For Architecture changes:</action>

• Identify affected components, patterns, or technology choices
• Describe diagram updates needed
• Note any ripple effects on other components

<action>For UI/UX specification updates:</action>

• Reference specific screens or components
• Show wireframe or flow changes needed
• Connect changes to user experience impact

<check if="mode is Incremental"> <action>Present each edit proposal individually</action> <action>HALT and give the user a choice: - **Approve** — accept this proposal - **Edit** — refine this proposal - **Skip** — drop this proposal </action> <action>If the user chooses **Approve**, keep the proposal. If they choose **Edit**, refine it with them. If they choose **Skip**, drop it. Continue to the next proposal.</action> </check>

<action if="mode is Batch">Collect all edit proposals and present together at end of step</action>

</step> <step n="4" goal="Generate Sprint Change Proposal"> <action>Compile comprehensive Sprint Change Proposal document with following sections:</action>

<action>Section 1: Issue Summary</action>

• Clear problem statement describing what triggered the change
• Context about when/how the issue was discovered
• Evidence or examples demonstrating the issue

<action>Section 2: Impact Analysis</action>

• 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

<action>Section 3: Recommended Approach</action>

• 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

<action>Section 4: Detailed Change Proposals</action>

• 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

<action>Section 5: Implementation Handoff</action>

• Categorize change scope:
  • Minor: Direct implementation by Developer agent
  • Moderate: Backlog reorganization needed (PO/DEV)
  • Major: Fundamental replan required (PM/Architect)
• List the epic and story changes (added, removed, resequenced, or rescoped) for the user to apply with bmad-ticket
• Specify handoff recipients and their responsibilities
• Define success criteria for implementation

<action>Present complete Sprint Change Proposal to user</action> <action>Write Sprint Change Proposal document to {default_output_file}</action> <action>HALT and give the user a choice:

• Continue — proceed to approval
• Edit — revise the proposal first </action>

<action>If the user chooses Edit, revise the proposal with them and write the updated document before continuing.</action> </step>

<step n="5" goal="Finalize and Route for Implementation"> <action>Get explicit user approval for complete proposal</action> <ask>Do you approve this Sprint Change Proposal for implementation? (yes/no/revise)</ask> <check if="no or revise"> <action>Gather specific feedback on what needs adjustment</action> <action>Return to appropriate step to address concerns</action> <goto step="3">If changes needed to edit proposals</goto> <goto step="4">If changes needed to overall proposal structure</goto> </check> <check if="yes the proposal is approved by the user"> <action>Finalize Sprint Change Proposal document</action> <action>Determine change scope classification:</action>

• Minor: Can be implemented directly by Developer agent
• Moderate: Requires backlog reorganization and PO/DEV coordination
• Major: Needs fundamental replan with PM/Architect involvement

<action>Provide appropriate handoff based on scope:</action>

</check> <check if="Minor scope"> <action>Route to: Developer agent for direct implementation</action> <action>Deliverables: Finalized edit proposals and implementation tasks</action> </check> <check if="Moderate scope"> <action>Route to: Product Owner / Developer agents</action> <action>Deliverables: Sprint Change Proposal + backlog reorganization plan</action> </check> <check if="Major scope"> <action>Route to: Product Manager / Solution Architect</action> <action>Deliverables: Complete Sprint Change Proposal + escalation notice</action>

<action>Confirm handoff completion and next steps with user</action> <action>Document handoff in workflow execution log</action> </check>

</step> <step n="6" goal="Workflow Completion"> <action>Summarize workflow execution:</action> - Issue addressed: {{change_trigger}} - Change scope: {{scope_classification}} - Artifacts modified: {{list_of_artifacts}} - Routed to: {{handoff_recipients}}

<action>Confirm all deliverables produced:</action>

• Sprint Change Proposal document
• Specific edit proposals with before/after
• Implementation handoff plan

<action>Report workflow completion to user: "Correct Course workflow complete!"</action> <action>Remind user of success criteria and next steps for Developer agent</action> <action>Run: uv run {project-root}/_bmad/scripts/resolve_customization.py --skill {skill-root} --project-root {project-root} --key workflow.on_complete — if the resolved value is non-empty, follow it as the final terminal instruction before exiting.</action> </step>

</workflow>