mini-starter/_bmad/bmm/workflows/2-plan-workflows/prd/steps-c/step-06-innovation.md

---

name: 'step-06-innovation' description: 'Detect and explore innovative aspects of the product (optional step)'

File References

nextStepFile: './step-07-project-type.md' outputFile: '{planning_artifacts}/prd.md'

Data Files

projectTypesCSV: '../data/project-types.csv'

Task References

advancedElicitationTask: '{project-root}/_bmad/core/workflows/advanced-elicitation/workflow.xml'

partyModeWorkflow: '{project-root}/_bmad/core/workflows/party-mode/workflow.md'

Step 6: Innovation Discovery

Progress: Step 6 of 11 - Next: Project Type Analysis

MANDATORY EXECUTION RULES (READ FIRST):

• 🛑 NEVER generate content without user input

• 📖 CRITICAL: ALWAYS read the complete step file before taking any action - partial understanding leads to incomplete decisions

• 🔄 CRITICAL: When loading next step with 'C', ensure the entire file is read and understood before proceeding

• ✅ ALWAYS treat this as collaborative discovery between PM peers

• 📋 YOU ARE A FACILITATOR, not a content generator

• 💬 FOCUS on detecting and exploring innovative aspects of the product

• 🎯 OPTIONAL STEP: Only proceed if innovation signals are detected

• ✅ YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT In your Agent communication style with the config {communication_language}

EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:

• 🎯 Show your analysis before taking any action
• ⚠️ Present A/P/C menu after generating innovation content
• 💾 ONLY save when user chooses C (Continue)
• 📖 Update output file frontmatter, adding this step name to the end of the list of stepsCompleted
• 🚫 FORBIDDEN to load next step until C is selected

CONTEXT BOUNDARIES:

• Current document and frontmatter from previous steps are available
• Project type from step-02 is available for innovation signal matching
• Project-type CSV data will be loaded in this step
• Focus on detecting genuine innovation, not forced creativity

OPTIONAL STEP CHECK:

Before proceeding with this step, scan for innovation signals:

• Listen for language like "nothing like this exists", "rethinking how X works"
• Check for project-type innovation signals from CSV
• Look for novel approaches or unique combinations
• If no innovation detected, skip this step

YOUR TASK:

Detect and explore innovation patterns in the product, focusing on what makes it truly novel and how to validate the innovative aspects.

INNOVATION DISCOVERY SEQUENCE:

1. Load Project-Type Innovation Data

Load innovation signals specific to this project type:

• Load {projectTypesCSV} completely
• Find the row where project_type matches detected type from step-02
• Extract innovation_signals (semicolon-separated list)
• Extract web_search_triggers for potential innovation research

2. Listen for Innovation Indicators

Monitor conversation for both general and project-type-specific innovation signals:

General Innovation Language:

• "Nothing like this exists"
• "We're rethinking how [X] works"
• "Combining [A] with [B] for the first time"
• "Novel approach to [problem]"
• "No one has done [concept] before"

Project-Type-Specific Signals (from CSV):

Match user descriptions against innovation_signals for their project_type:

• api_backend: "API composition;New protocol"
• mobile_app: "Gesture innovation;AR/VR features"
• saas_b2b: "Workflow automation;AI agents"
• developer_tool: "New paradigm;DSL creation"

3. Initial Innovation Screening

Ask targeted innovation discovery questions:

• Guide exploration of what makes the product innovative
• Explore if they're challenging existing assumptions
• Ask about novel combinations of technologies/approaches
• Identify what hasn't been done before
• Understand which aspects feel most innovative

4. Deep Innovation Exploration (If Detected)

If innovation signals are found, explore deeply:

Innovation Discovery Questions:

• What makes it unique compared to existing solutions?
• What assumption are you challenging?
• How do we validate it works?
• What's the fallback if it doesn't?
• Has anyone tried this before?

Market Context Research:

If relevant innovation detected, consider web search for context: Use web_search_triggers from project-type CSV: [web_search_triggers] {concept} innovations {date}

5. Generate Innovation Content (If Innovation Detected)

Prepare the content to append to the document:

Content Structure:

When saving to document, append these Level 2 and Level 3 sections:

## Innovation & Novel Patterns

### Detected Innovation Areas

[Innovation patterns identified based on conversation]

### Market Context & Competitive Landscape

[Market context and research based on conversation]

### Validation Approach

[Validation methodology based on conversation]

### Risk Mitigation

[Innovation risks and fallbacks based on conversation]

6. Present MENU OPTIONS (Only if Innovation Detected)

Present the innovation content for review, then display menu:

• Show identified innovative aspects (using structure from section 5)
• Highlight differentiation from existing solutions
• Ask if they'd like to refine further, get other perspectives, or proceed
• Present menu options naturally as part of conversation

Display: "Select: [A] Advanced Elicitation [P] Party Mode [C] Continue to Project Type Analysis (Step 7 of 11)"

Menu Handling Logic:

• IF A: Execute {advancedElicitationTask} with the current innovation content, process the enhanced innovation insights that come back, ask user "Accept these improvements to the innovation analysis? (y/n)", if yes update content with improvements then redisplay menu, if no keep original content then redisplay menu
• IF P: Execute {partyModeWorkflow} with the current innovation content, process the collaborative innovation exploration and ideation, ask user "Accept these changes to the innovation analysis? (y/n)", if yes update content with improvements then redisplay menu, if no keep original content then redisplay menu
• IF C: Append the final content to {outputFile}, update frontmatter by adding this step name to the end of the stepsCompleted array, then load, read entire file, then execute {nextStepFile}
• IF Any other: help user respond, then redisplay menu

EXECUTION RULES:

• ALWAYS halt and wait for user input after presenting menu
• ONLY proceed to next step when user selects 'C'
• After other menu items execution, return to this menu

NO INNOVATION DETECTED:

If no genuine innovation signals are found after exploration:

• Acknowledge that no clear innovation signals were found
• Note this is fine - many successful products are excellent executions of existing concepts
• Ask if they'd like to try finding innovative angles or proceed

Display: "Select: [A] Advanced Elicitation - Let's try to find innovative angles [C] Continue - Skip innovation section and move to Project Type Analysis (Step 7 of 11)"

Menu Handling Logic:

• IF A: Proceed with content generation anyway, then return to menu
• IF C: Skip this step, then load, read entire file, then execute {nextStepFile}

EXECUTION RULES:

• ALWAYS halt and wait for user input after presenting menu
• ONLY proceed to next step when user selects 'C'

APPEND TO DOCUMENT:

When user selects 'C', append the content directly to the document using the structure from step 5.

SUCCESS METRICS:

✅ Innovation signals properly detected from user conversation ✅ Project-type innovation signals used to guide discovery ✅ Genuine innovation explored (not forced creativity) ✅ Validation approach clearly defined for innovative aspects ✅ Risk mitigation strategies identified ✅ A/P/C menu presented and handled correctly ✅ Content properly appended to document when C selected

FAILURE MODES:

❌ Forced innovation when none genuinely exists ❌ Not using project-type innovation signals from CSV ❌ Missing market context research for novel concepts ❌ Not addressing validation approach for innovative features ❌ Creating innovation theater without real innovative aspects ❌ Not presenting A/P/C menu after content generation ❌ Appending content without user selecting 'C'

❌ CRITICAL: Reading only partial step file - leads to incomplete understanding and poor decisions ❌ CRITICAL: Proceeding with 'C' without fully reading and understanding the next step file ❌ CRITICAL: Making decisions without complete understanding of step requirements and protocols

SKIP CONDITIONS:

Skip this step and load {nextStepFile} if:

• No innovation signals detected in conversation
• Product is incremental improvement rather than breakthrough
• User confirms innovation exploration is not needed
• Project-type CSV has no innovation signals for this type

NEXT STEP:

After user selects 'C' and content is saved to document (or step is skipped), load {nextStepFile}.

Remember: Do NOT proceed to step-07 until user explicitly selects 'C' from the A/P/C menu (or confirms step skip)!