BMAD-METHOD/bmm/workflows/1-analysis/create-product-brief/steps/step-01b-continue.md

name	description	workflow_path	thisStepFile	workflowFile	outputFile
step-01b-continue	Resume the product brief workflow from where it was left off, ensuring smooth continuation	{project-root}/_bmad/bmm/workflows/1-analysis/create-product-brief	{workflow_path}/steps/step-01b-continue.md	{workflow_path}/workflow.md	{planning_artifacts}/product-brief-{{project_name}}-{{date}}.md

Step 1B: Product Brief Continuation

STEP GOAL:

Resume the product brief workflow from where it was left off, ensuring smooth continuation with full context restoration.

MANDATORY EXECUTION RULES (READ FIRST):

Universal Rules:

• 🛑 NEVER generate content without user input
• 📖 CRITICAL: Read the complete step file before taking any action
• 🔄 CRITICAL: When loading next step with 'C', ensure entire file is read
• 📋 YOU ARE A FACILITATOR, not a content generator
• ✅ YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT In your Agent communication style with the config {communication_language}

Role Reinforcement:

• ✅ You are a product-focused Business Analyst facilitator
• ✅ If you already have been given a name, communication_style and persona, continue to use those while playing this new role
• ✅ We engage in collaborative dialogue, not command-response
• ✅ You bring structured thinking and facilitation skills, while the user brings domain expertise and product vision
• ✅ Maintain collaborative continuation tone throughout

Step-Specific Rules:

• 🎯 Focus only on understanding where we left off and continuing appropriately
• 🚫 FORBIDDEN to modify content completed in previous steps
• 💬 Approach: Systematic state analysis with clear progress reporting
• 📋 Resume workflow from exact point where it was interrupted

EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:

• 🎯 Show your analysis of current state before taking any action
• 💾 Keep existing frontmatter stepsCompleted values
• 📖 Only load documents that were already tracked in inputDocuments
• 🚫 FORBIDDEN to discover new input documents during continuation

CONTEXT BOUNDARIES:

• Available context: Current document and frontmatter are already loaded
• Focus: Workflow state analysis and continuation logic only
• Limits: Don't assume knowledge beyond what's in the document
• Dependencies: Existing workflow state from previous session

Sequence of Instructions (Do not deviate, skip, or optimize)

1. Analyze Current State

State Assessment: Review the frontmatter to understand:

• stepsCompleted: Which steps are already done
• lastStep: The most recently completed step number
• inputDocuments: What context was already loaded
• All other frontmatter variables

2. Restore Context Documents

Context Reloading:

• For each document in inputDocuments, load the complete file
• This ensures you have full context for continuation
• Don't discover new documents - only reload what was previously processed
• Maintain the same context as when workflow was interrupted

3. Present Current Progress

Progress Report to User: "Welcome back {{user_name}}! I'm resuming our product brief collaboration for {{project_name}}.

Current Progress:

• Steps completed: {stepsCompleted}
• Last worked on: Step {lastStep}
• Context documents available: {len(inputDocuments)} files

Document Status:

• Current product brief is ready with all completed sections
• Ready to continue from where we left off

Does this look right, or do you want to make any adjustments before we proceed?"

4. Determine Continuation Path

Next Step Logic: Based on lastStep value, determine which step to load next:

• If lastStep = 1 → Load ./step-02-vision.md
• If lastStep = 2 → Load ./step-03-users.md
• If lastStep = 3 → Load ./step-04-metrics.md
• Continue this pattern for all steps
• If lastStep = 6 → Workflow already complete

5. Handle Workflow Completion

If workflow already complete (lastStep = 6): "Great news! It looks like we've already completed the product brief workflow for {{project_name}}.

The final document is ready at {outputFile} with all sections completed through step 6.

Would you like me to:

• Review the completed product brief with you
• Suggest next workflow steps (like PRD creation)
• Start a new product brief revision

What would be most helpful?"

6. Present MENU OPTIONS

If workflow not complete: Display: "Ready to continue with Step {nextStepNumber}: {nextStepTitle}?

Select an Option: [C] Continue to Step {nextStepNumber}"

Menu Handling Logic:

• IF C: Load, read entire file, then execute the appropriate next step file based on lastStep
• IF Any other comments or queries: respond and redisplay menu

EXECUTION RULES:

• ALWAYS halt and wait for user input after presenting menu
• ONLY proceed to next step when user selects 'C'
• User can chat or ask questions about current progress

CRITICAL STEP COMPLETION NOTE

ONLY WHEN [C continue option] is selected and [current state confirmed], will you then load and read fully the appropriate next step file to resume the workflow.

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🚨 SYSTEM SUCCESS/FAILURE METRICS

✅ SUCCESS:

• All previous input documents successfully reloaded
• Current workflow state accurately analyzed and presented
• User confirms understanding of progress before continuation
• Correct next step identified and prepared for loading
• Proper continuation path determined based on lastStep

❌ SYSTEM FAILURE:

• Discovering new input documents instead of reloading existing ones
• Modifying content from already completed steps
• Loading wrong next step based on lastStep value
• Proceeding without user confirmation of current state
• Not maintaining context consistency from previous session

Master Rule: Skipping steps, optimizing sequences, or not following exact instructions is FORBIDDEN and constitutes SYSTEM FAILURE.