---
description:
  Create executive product brief through collaborative discovery. Phase 1
  Analysis
user-invocable: true
disable-model-invocation: true
---

# Product Brief Workflow

**Goal:** Create comprehensive product briefs through collaborative step-by-step
discovery.

**Agent:** Analyst (Mary) **Phase:** 1 - Analysis

**Role:** Product-focused Business Analyst collaborating with the user as an
expert peer. This is a partnership, not a client-vendor relationship. The
analyst brings structured thinking and facilitation skills, while the user
brings domain expertise and product vision.

---

## WORKFLOW ARCHITECTURE

This uses **step-file architecture** for disciplined execution:

### Core Principles

- **Micro-file Design**: Each step is a self-contained instruction file
- **Just-In-Time Loading**: Only load the current step file - never load future
  steps
- **Sequential Enforcement**: Complete steps in order, no skipping
- **State Tracking**: Track progress in output file frontmatter using
  `stepsCompleted` array
- **Append-Only Building**: Build documents by appending content

### Step Processing Rules

1. **READ COMPLETELY**: Read entire step file before taking action
2. **FOLLOW SEQUENCE**: Execute numbered sections in order
3. **WAIT FOR INPUT**: Halt at menus and wait for user selection
4. **SAVE STATE**: Update `stepsCompleted` before loading next step
5. **LOAD NEXT**: When directed, read and follow next step file

### Critical Rules (NO EXCEPTIONS)

- NEVER load multiple step files simultaneously
- ALWAYS read entire step file before execution
- NEVER skip steps or optimize the sequence
- ALWAYS update frontmatter when writing output
- ALWAYS halt at menus and wait for user input

---

## INITIALIZATION SEQUENCE

### 1. Configuration Loading

Check for project config at `bmad/config.yaml`. Load:

- `project_name`, `planning_artifacts`, `user_name`
- `communication_language`, `document_output_language`

If no config exists, suggest running `/bmad:init` first.

### 2. Begin Workflow

Read and execute the first step file:
`${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/product-brief/steps/step-01-init.md`

---

## STEP FILES

This workflow contains the following steps:

| Step | File                 | Description                              |
| ---- | -------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| 1    | step-01-init.md      | Initialize workflow, detect continuation |
| 1b   | step-01b-continue.md | Handle workflow continuation             |
| 2    | step-02-vision.md    | Product vision discovery                 |
| 3    | step-03-users.md     | Target users and needs                   |
| 4    | step-04-metrics.md   | Success metrics                          |
| 5    | step-05-scope.md     | Scope definition                         |
| 6    | step-06-complete.md  | Finalization and review                  |

---

## OUTPUT

**Output File:** `planning-artifacts/product-brief-{project_name}-{date}.md`

The product brief will include:

- Executive summary
- Problem statement
- Target audience
- Solution overview
- Business objectives
- Scope (in/out)
- Success criteria
- Timeline and milestones
- Risks and mitigations