BMAD-METHOD/docs/po-workflow-mapping.md

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Product Owner (Sarah) Workflow Mapping

Overview

This document provides comprehensive workflow mapping for Product Owner activities within the BMAD Method. These workflows ensure systematic, efficient, and high-quality product ownership that drives successful project outcomes.

Table of Contents

  1. Core Workflow Overview
  2. Story Creation Workflow
  3. Backlog Management Workflow
  4. Sprint Planning Workflow
  5. Stakeholder Engagement Workflow
  6. Quality Assurance Workflow
  7. Integration Workflows
  8. Decision Trees
  9. Escalation Procedures

Core Workflow Overview

Primary Product Owner Workflows

graph TD
    A[Requirements Input] --> B[Story Creation Workflow]
    B --> C[Backlog Management Workflow]
    C --> D[Sprint Planning Workflow]
    D --> E[Development Support]
    E --> F[Quality Assurance Workflow]
    F --> G[Stakeholder Communication]
    G --> H[Feedback Integration]
    H --> C
    
    I[Stakeholder Requests] --> J[Stakeholder Engagement Workflow]
    J --> B
    
    K[Quality Issues] --> L[Quality Assurance Workflow]
    L --> M[Process Improvement]
    M --> B

Workflow Integration Points

sequenceDiagram
    participant PM as Product Manager
    participant SA as System Architect
    participant UX as UX/UI Architect
    participant PO as Product Owner
    participant DEV as Developer
    participant SM as Scrum Master
    
    PM->>PO: PRD and Requirements
    SA->>PO: Technical Constraints
    UX->>PO: Design Specifications
    PO->>PO: Create User Stories
    PO->>DEV: Sprint-Ready Stories
    PO->>SM: Sprint Planning Support
    DEV->>PO: Clarification Requests
    PO->>PM: Progress Updates

Story Creation Workflow

Story Creation Process Flow

flowchart TD
    A[Receive Requirements] --> B{Requirements Clear?}
    B -->|No| C[Stakeholder Clarification]
    C --> B
    B -->|Yes| D[Create Initial Story]
    D --> E[Define Acceptance Criteria]
    E --> F[Estimate Story Points]
    F --> G[Identify Dependencies]
    G --> H[Validate with Stakeholders]
    H --> I{Stakeholder Approval?}
    I -->|No| J[Refine Story]
    J --> E
    I -->|Yes| K[Add to Product Backlog]
    K --> L[Story Ready for Development]

Detailed Story Creation Steps

Phase 1: Requirements Analysis (30 minutes)

  1. Receive Input

    • Review PRD from Product Manager
    • Analyze technical constraints from System Architect
    • Review design specifications from UX/UI Architect
    • Identify stakeholder requirements
  2. Requirements Validation

    • Verify requirements completeness
    • Identify missing information
    • Clarify ambiguous requirements
    • Validate business value proposition
  3. Initial Assessment

    • Assess story complexity
    • Identify potential risks
    • Estimate initial effort
    • Determine story priority

Phase 2: Story Drafting (45 minutes)

  1. Story Structure Creation

    • Write story title and description
    • Define user persona and role
    • Articulate desired functionality
    • Specify business value
  2. Acceptance Criteria Definition

    • Write Given-When-Then scenarios
    • Cover happy path scenarios
    • Include edge cases and error conditions
    • Define validation criteria
  3. Story Details

    • Add story metadata (priority, complexity)
    • Document assumptions and constraints
    • Identify dependencies and blockers
    • Add relevant notes and context

Phase 3: Story Validation (30 minutes)

  1. Quality Review

    • Validate INVEST principles compliance
    • Review acceptance criteria completeness
    • Check story clarity and testability
    • Verify business value articulation
  2. Stakeholder Review

    • Present story to key stakeholders
    • Gather feedback and suggestions
    • Address concerns and questions
    • Obtain stakeholder approval
  3. Final Preparation

    • Incorporate stakeholder feedback
    • Finalize story details
    • Add to product backlog
    • Mark as ready for development

Story Creation Quality Gates

Gate 1: Requirements Clarity

  • All requirements are clearly understood
  • Missing information has been identified and obtained
  • Business value is clearly articulated
  • Technical constraints are understood

Gate 2: Story Quality

  • Story follows INVEST principles
  • Acceptance criteria are complete and testable
  • Dependencies are identified and documented
  • Story is appropriately sized for sprint completion

Gate 3: Stakeholder Approval

  • Key stakeholders have reviewed the story
  • Feedback has been incorporated
  • Business value is validated
  • Story is approved for development

Backlog Management Workflow

Backlog Management Process Flow

flowchart TD
    A[New Stories Created] --> B[Add to Product Backlog]
    B --> C[Prioritize Stories]
    C --> D[Estimate Stories]
    D --> E[Identify Dependencies]
    E --> F[Refine Stories]
    F --> G[Validate Readiness]
    G --> H{Ready for Sprint?}
    H -->|No| I[Additional Refinement]
    I --> F
    H -->|Yes| J[Move to Sprint Backlog]
    J --> K[Sprint Planning]
    
    L[Business Changes] --> M[Reprioritize Backlog]
    M --> C
    
    N[Stakeholder Feedback] --> O[Update Stories]
    O --> F

Backlog Prioritization Workflow

Prioritization Framework Application

  1. Business Value Assessment

    • Evaluate user impact and satisfaction
    • Assess revenue and cost implications
    • Consider strategic alignment
    • Analyze competitive advantage
  2. Technical Considerations

    • Review technical complexity
    • Assess implementation risk
    • Consider technical dependencies
    • Evaluate architectural impact
  3. Resource and Timeline Factors

    • Assess team capacity and skills
    • Consider timeline constraints
    • Evaluate resource availability
    • Plan for dependencies
  4. Stakeholder Input Integration

    • Gather stakeholder priorities
    • Resolve conflicting priorities
    • Communicate prioritization rationale
    • Obtain stakeholder agreement

Backlog Refinement Workflow

Weekly Refinement Process (2 hours)

  1. Preparation (15 minutes)

    • Review upcoming sprint capacity
    • Identify stories for refinement
    • Prepare refinement agenda
    • Gather stakeholder input
  2. Story Review (90 minutes)

    • Review story details and acceptance criteria
    • Clarify requirements and expectations
    • Update estimates based on new information
    • Identify and resolve dependencies
  3. Readiness Assessment (15 minutes)

    • Validate story readiness for development
    • Identify any remaining blockers
    • Confirm stakeholder approval
    • Mark stories as sprint-ready

Sprint Planning Workflow

Sprint Planning Process Flow

flowchart TD
    A[Sprint Planning Preparation] --> B[Review Sprint Goal]
    B --> C[Review Team Capacity]
    C --> D[Select Stories from Backlog]
    D --> E[Validate Story Readiness]
    E --> F{Stories Ready?}
    F -->|No| G[Refine Stories]
    G --> E
    F -->|Yes| H[Create Sprint Backlog]
    H --> I[Break Down into Tasks]
    I --> J[Estimate Task Effort]
    J --> K[Validate Sprint Commitment]
    K --> L{Commitment Realistic?}
    L -->|No| M[Adjust Scope]
    M --> D
    L -->|Yes| N[Finalize Sprint Plan]
    N --> O[Sprint Kickoff]

Sprint Planning Preparation Workflow

Pre-Planning Activities (1 day before)

  1. Backlog Preparation

    • Ensure top priority stories are refined
    • Validate acceptance criteria completeness
    • Confirm stakeholder approval
    • Identify any last-minute changes
  2. Capacity Planning

    • Calculate team availability
    • Account for holidays and time off
    • Consider meeting and training time
    • Determine available story points
  3. Goal Setting

    • Define clear sprint goal
    • Align goal with business objectives
    • Communicate goal to stakeholders
    • Prepare goal presentation

Sprint Planning Execution (4 hours)

Part 1: What Will Be Done (2 hours)
  1. Goal Presentation (30 minutes)

    • Present sprint goal to team
    • Explain business context and value
    • Answer questions and clarify expectations
    • Obtain team agreement on goal
  2. Story Selection (90 minutes)

    • Review prioritized backlog items
    • Select stories based on capacity and goal
    • Validate story readiness and clarity
    • Confirm story acceptance criteria
Part 2: How Work Will Be Done (2 hours)
  1. Task Breakdown (90 minutes)

    • Break stories into development tasks
    • Identify technical approach and dependencies
    • Assign initial task ownership
    • Estimate task effort in hours
  2. Commitment Validation (30 minutes)

    • Review total commitment vs. capacity
    • Identify risks and mitigation strategies
    • Adjust scope if necessary
    • Finalize team commitment

Stakeholder Engagement Workflow

Stakeholder Communication Process Flow

flowchart TD
    A[Identify Communication Need] --> B[Determine Stakeholders]
    B --> C[Select Communication Method]
    C --> D[Prepare Communication Content]
    D --> E[Deliver Communication]
    E --> F[Collect Feedback]
    F --> G[Document Feedback]
    G --> H[Analyze and Prioritize]
    H --> I[Plan Response Actions]
    I --> J[Implement Actions]
    J --> K[Follow Up with Stakeholders]
    K --> L[Update Communication Plan]

Regular Stakeholder Communication Cadence

Weekly Stakeholder Updates

  1. Preparation (30 minutes)

    • Gather sprint progress data
    • Identify key achievements and blockers
    • Prepare stakeholder-specific content
    • Review previous feedback and actions
  2. Communication Delivery (15 minutes)

    • Send written update via email
    • Highlight key progress and decisions needed
    • Include relevant metrics and visuals
    • Provide clear next steps
  3. Follow-up (15 minutes)

    • Monitor stakeholder responses
    • Schedule meetings for complex discussions
    • Document feedback and questions
    • Plan response actions

Sprint Review Stakeholder Engagement

  1. Pre-Review Preparation (1 hour)

    • Prepare demonstration script
    • Gather stakeholder feedback questions
    • Set up demo environment
    • Coordinate stakeholder attendance
  2. Review Execution (2 hours)

    • Present sprint achievements
    • Demonstrate completed functionality
    • Collect stakeholder feedback
    • Discuss upcoming priorities
  3. Post-Review Actions (30 minutes)

    • Document feedback and decisions
    • Update backlog based on feedback
    • Communicate action items
    • Plan follow-up activities

Quality Assurance Workflow

Quality Assurance Process Flow

flowchart TD
    A[Quality Check Trigger] --> B[Identify QA Scope]
    B --> C[Select QA Checklist]
    C --> D[Execute Quality Review]
    D --> E[Document Findings]
    E --> F{Quality Issues Found?}
    F -->|Yes| G[Create Improvement Plan]
    G --> H[Implement Improvements]
    H --> I[Re-validate Quality]
    I --> F
    F -->|No| J[Approve Quality]
    J --> K[Update Quality Metrics]
    K --> L[Communicate Results]

Story Quality Assurance Workflow

Story QA Process (30 minutes per story)

  1. INVEST Validation (10 minutes)

    • Independent: Story can be developed independently
    • Negotiable: Implementation details are flexible
    • Valuable: Story delivers clear business value
    • Estimable: Story can be reasonably estimated
    • Small: Story fits within a sprint
    • Testable: Story has clear acceptance criteria
  2. Content Quality Review (15 minutes)

    • Title clarity and descriptiveness
    • Story description completeness
    • Acceptance criteria testability
    • Business value articulation
    • Dependency identification
  3. Stakeholder Validation (5 minutes)

    • Stakeholder review completion
    • Feedback incorporation
    • Approval documentation
    • Communication of changes

Process Quality Assurance Workflow

Sprint Process QA (Weekly)

  1. Planning Quality Review

    • Sprint goal clarity and achievability
    • Story selection rationale
    • Capacity planning accuracy
    • Risk identification and mitigation
  2. Execution Quality Review

    • Daily standup effectiveness
    • Blocker resolution speed
    • Stakeholder communication quality
    • Progress tracking accuracy
  3. Review Quality Assessment

    • Demonstration quality and preparation
    • Stakeholder engagement effectiveness
    • Feedback collection and integration
    • Action item follow-through

Integration Workflows

BMAD Method Persona Integration

Integration with Product Manager (John)

  1. PRD Handoff Process

    • Receive and review PRD
    • Validate requirements completeness
    • Identify clarification needs
    • Confirm business priorities
  2. Ongoing Collaboration

    • Regular progress updates
    • Stakeholder feedback sharing
    • Priority adjustment discussions
    • Success metrics tracking

Integration with System Architect (Fred)

  1. Technical Constraint Integration

    • Review technical architecture
    • Understand implementation constraints
    • Incorporate technical considerations into stories
    • Validate technical feasibility
  2. Architecture Alignment

    • Ensure stories support architecture
    • Identify technical dependencies
    • Plan technical story sequencing
    • Coordinate technical reviews

Integration with UX/UI Architect (Veronica/Victor)

  1. Design Integration Process

    • Review design specifications
    • Incorporate design requirements into stories
    • Ensure design-development alignment
    • Plan design validation activities
  2. User Experience Coordination

    • Validate user journey completeness
    • Ensure consistent user experience
    • Coordinate usability testing
    • Integrate design feedback

Integration with Developer (David)

  1. Development Support Process

    • Provide story clarification
    • Support estimation activities
    • Answer implementation questions
    • Validate completed work
  2. Quality Collaboration

    • Review acceptance criteria validation
    • Support testing activities
    • Validate business value delivery
    • Coordinate stakeholder acceptance

Integration with Scrum Master (Mike)

  1. Process Collaboration

    • Support sprint planning activities
    • Coordinate stakeholder communication
    • Align on process improvements
    • Share velocity and quality metrics
  2. Team Support

    • Provide product context to team
    • Support conflict resolution
    • Facilitate stakeholder access
    • Coordinate external dependencies

Decision Trees

Story Prioritization Decision Tree

flowchart TD
    A[New Story] --> B{Critical Business Need?}
    B -->|Yes| C[High Priority]
    B -->|No| D{High User Value?}
    D -->|Yes| E{Low Implementation Risk?}
    E -->|Yes| F[High Priority]
    E -->|No| G[Medium Priority]
    D -->|No| H{Technical Dependency?}
    H -->|Yes| I{Blocks Other Work?}
    I -->|Yes| J[Medium Priority]
    I -->|No| K[Low Priority]
    H -->|No| L{Strategic Alignment?}
    L -->|Yes| M[Medium Priority]
    L -->|No| N[Low Priority]

Quality Issue Resolution Decision Tree

flowchart TD
    A[Quality Issue Identified] --> B{Severity Level?}
    B -->|Critical| C[Immediate Action Required]
    C --> D[Stop Current Work]
    D --> E[Fix Issue Immediately]
    B -->|High| F[Urgent Action Required]
    F --> G[Plan Fix in Current Sprint]
    B -->|Medium| H[Standard Process]
    H --> I[Add to Backlog]
    I --> J[Prioritize for Next Sprint]
    B -->|Low| K[Monitor and Track]
    K --> L[Address in Future Sprint]

Escalation Procedures

Issue Escalation Matrix

Issue Type Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Timeline
Story Clarification Team Discussion Stakeholder Meeting Executive Review 1-3 days
Priority Conflict PO Decision PM Consultation Executive Decision 2-5 days
Resource Constraint Team Planning Management Review Executive Approval 3-7 days
Quality Issue Team Resolution Process Review Quality Audit 1-14 days
Stakeholder Conflict Direct Discussion Facilitated Meeting Executive Mediation 2-10 days

Escalation Process Workflow

flowchart TD
    A[Issue Identified] --> B[Assess Severity and Impact]
    B --> C{Can Be Resolved at Team Level?}
    C -->|Yes| D[Team Resolution]
    D --> E[Document Resolution]
    C -->|No| F[Escalate to Level 2]
    F --> G{Resolution Achieved?}
    G -->|Yes| H[Document and Communicate]
    G -->|No| I[Escalate to Level 3]
    I --> J[Executive Review]
    J --> K[Final Resolution]
    K --> L[Update Processes]

Communication During Escalation

Escalation Communication Template

  1. Issue Description

    • Clear description of the issue
    • Impact on project and stakeholders
    • Urgency and timeline constraints
    • Previous resolution attempts
  2. Stakeholder Notification

    • Notify affected stakeholders
    • Provide regular status updates
    • Communicate resolution timeline
    • Document decisions and rationale
  3. Resolution Communication

    • Communicate final resolution
    • Update affected documentation
    • Share lessons learned
    • Implement process improvements

These comprehensive workflow mappings ensure systematic, efficient, and high-quality product ownership within the BMAD Method. Regular application and continuous improvement of these workflows will enhance the effectiveness of product ownership practices and drive consistent project success.

Workflow Optimization

Continuous Workflow Improvement

Monthly Workflow Review Process

  1. Performance Analysis

    • Review workflow execution metrics
    • Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies
    • Analyze stakeholder feedback on processes
    • Assess team satisfaction with workflows
  2. Improvement Identification

    • Gather team input on workflow challenges
    • Research industry best practices
    • Identify automation opportunities
    • Propose workflow enhancements
  3. Implementation Planning

    • Prioritize improvement initiatives
    • Plan implementation timeline
    • Assign improvement ownership
    • Communicate changes to stakeholders

Workflow Automation Opportunities

Automated Quality Checks

  • Story template compliance validation
  • INVEST principles automated assessment
  • Acceptance criteria completeness checking
  • Dependency conflict detection

Automated Reporting

  • Sprint progress dashboards
  • Stakeholder update generation
  • Quality metrics compilation
  • Workflow performance tracking

Automated Notifications

  • Story readiness alerts
  • Stakeholder review reminders
  • Quality gate notifications
  • Escalation triggers

This comprehensive workflow mapping guide provides Product Owners with detailed processes for effective product ownership within the BMAD Method, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality outcomes that drive project success.