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

Path Definitions

workflow_path: '{project-root}/_bmad/bmm/workflows/2-plan-workflows/prd'

File References

thisStepFile: '{workflow_path}/steps/step-06-innovation.md' nextStepFile: '{workflow_path}/steps/step-07-project-type.md' workflowFile: '{workflow_path}/workflow.md' outputFile: '{planning_artifacts}/prd.md'

Data Files

projectTypesCSV: '{workflow_path}/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 frontmatter stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] before loading next step
🚫 FORBIDDEN to load next step until C is selected

COLLABORATION MENUS (A/P/C):

This step will generate content and present choices:

A (Advanced Elicitation): Use discovery protocols to develop deeper innovation insights
P (Party Mode): Bring creative perspectives to explore innovation opportunities
C (Continue): Save the content to the document and proceed to next step

PROTOCOL INTEGRATION:

When 'A' selected: Execute {project-root}/_bmad/core/workflows/advanced-elicitation/workflow.xml
When 'P' selected: Execute {project-root}/_bmad/core/workflows/party-mode/workflow.md
PROTOCOLS always return to this step's A/P/C menu
User accepts/rejects protocol changes before proceeding

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 {project-root}/_bmad/bmm/workflows/2-plan-workflows/prd/project-types.csv 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: "As we explore {{project_name}}, I'm listening for what makes it innovative.

Innovation Indicators:

Are you challenging any existing assumptions about how things work?
Are you combining technologies or approaches in new ways?
Is there something about this that hasn't been done before?

What aspects of {{project_name}} feel most innovative to you?"

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 Content and Menu (Only if Innovation Detected)

Show the generated innovation content and present choices: "I've identified some innovative aspects of {{project_name}} that differentiate it from existing solutions.

Here's what I'll add to the document:

[Show the complete markdown content from step 5]

What would you like to do? [A] Advanced Elicitation - Let's dive deeper into these innovation opportunities [P] Party Mode - Bring creative perspectives to explore innovation further [C] Continue - Save this and move to Project Type Analysis (Step 7 of 11)"

7. Handle Menu Selection

If 'A' (Advanced Elicitation):

Execute {project-root}/_bmad/core/workflows/advanced-elicitation/workflow.xml 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 return to A/P/C menu
If no: Keep original content, then return to A/P/C menu

If 'P' (Party Mode):

Execute {project-root}/_bmad/core/workflows/party-mode/workflow.md 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 return to A/P/C menu
If no: Keep original content, then return to A/P/C menu

If 'C' (Continue):

Append the final content to {outputFile}
Update frontmatter: add this step name to the end of the steps completed array
Load {project-root}/_bmad/bmm/workflows/2-plan-workflows/prd/steps/step-07-project-type.md

NO INNOVATION DETECTED:

If no genuine innovation signals are found after exploration: "After exploring {{project_name}}, I don't see clear innovation signals that warrant a dedicated innovation section. This is perfectly fine - many successful products are excellent executions of existing concepts rather than breakthrough innovations.

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

If user selects 'A', proceed with content generation anyway. If 'C', skip this step and load {project-root}/_bmad/bmm/workflows/2-plan-workflows/prd/steps/step-07-project-type.md.

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 {project-root}/_bmad/bmm/workflows/2-plan-workflows/prd/steps/step-07-project-type.md 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 {project-root}/_bmad/bmm/workflows/2-plan-workflows/prd/steps/step-07-project-type.md.

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

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