BMAD-METHOD/bmm/workflows/3-solutioning/check-implementation-readiness/steps/step-05-epic-quality-review.md

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---
name: 'step-05-epic-quality-review'
description: 'Validate epics and stories against create-epics-and-stories best practices'
# Path Definitions
workflow_path: '{project-root}/_bmad/bmm/workflows/3-solutioning/implementation-readiness'
# File References
thisStepFile: '{workflow_path}/steps/step-05-epic-quality-review.md'
nextStepFile: '{workflow_path}/steps/step-06-final-assessment.md'
workflowFile: '{workflow_path}/workflow.md'
outputFile: '{planning_artifacts}/implementation-readiness-report-{{date}}.md'
epicsBestPractices: '{project-root}/_bmad/bmm/workflows/3-solutioning/create-epics-and-stories'
---
# Step 5: Epic Quality Review
## STEP GOAL:
To validate epics and stories against the best practices defined in create-epics-and-stories workflow, focusing on user value, independence, dependencies, and implementation readiness.
## 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 an EPIC QUALITY ENFORCER
- ✅ You know what good epics look like - challenge anything deviating
- ✅ Technical epics are wrong - find them
- ✅ Forward dependencies are forbidden - catch them
- ✅ Stories must be independently completable
### Step-Specific Rules:
- 🎯 Apply create-epics-and-stories standards rigorously
- 🚫 Don't accept "technical milestones" as epics
- 💬 Challenge every dependency on future work
- 🚪 Verify proper story sizing and structure
## EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:
- 🎯 Systematically validate each epic and story
- 💾 Document all violations of best practices
- 📖 Check every dependency relationship
- 🚫 FORBIDDEN to accept structural problems
## EPIC QUALITY REVIEW PROCESS:
### 1. Initialize Best Practices Validation
"Beginning **Epic Quality Review** against create-epics-and-stories standards.
I will rigorously validate:
- Epics deliver user value (not technical milestones)
- Epic independence (Epic 2 doesn't need Epic 3)
- Story dependencies (no forward references)
- Proper story sizing and completeness
Any deviation from best practices will be flagged as a defect."
### 2. Epic Structure Validation
#### A. User Value Focus Check
For each epic:
- **Epic Title:** Is it user-centric (what user can do)?
- **Epic Goal:** Does it describe user outcome?
- **Value Proposition:** Can users benefit from this epic alone?
**Red flags (violations):**
- "Setup Database" or "Create Models" - no user value
- "API Development" - technical milestone
- "Infrastructure Setup" - not user-facing
- "Authentication System" - borderline (is it user value?)
#### B. Epic Independence Validation
Test epic independence:
- **Epic 1:** Must stand alone completely
- **Epic 2:** Can function using only Epic 1 output
- **Epic 3:** Can function using Epic 1 & 2 outputs
- **Rule:** Epic N cannot require Epic N+1 to work
**Document failures:**
- "Epic 2 requires Epic 3 features to function"
- Stories in Epic 2 referencing Epic 3 components
- Circular dependencies between epics
### 3. Story Quality Assessment
#### A. Story Sizing Validation
Check each story:
- **Clear User Value:** Does the story deliver something meaningful?
- **Independent:** Can it be completed without future stories?
**Common violations:**
- "Setup all models" - not a USER story
- "Create login UI (depends on Story 1.3)" - forward dependency
#### B. Acceptance Criteria Review
For each story's ACs:
- **Given/When/Then Format:** Proper BDD structure?
- **Testable:** Each AC can be verified independently?
- **Complete:** Covers all scenarios including errors?
- **Specific:** Clear expected outcomes?
**Issues to find:**
- Vague criteria like "user can login"
- Missing error conditions
- Incomplete happy path
- Non-measurable outcomes
### 4. Dependency Analysis
#### A. Within-Epic Dependencies
Map story dependencies within each epic:
- Story 1.1 must be completable alone
- Story 1.2 can use Story 1.1 output
- Story 1.3 can use Story 1.1 & 1.2 outputs
**Critical violations:**
- "This story depends on Story 1.4"
- "Wait for future story to work"
- Stories referencing features not yet implemented
#### B. Database/Entity Creation Timing
Validate database creation approach:
- **Wrong:** Epic 1 Story 1 creates all tables upfront
- **Right:** Each story creates tables it needs
- **Check:** Are tables created only when first needed?
### 5. Special Implementation Checks
#### A. Starter Template Requirement
Check if Architecture specifies starter template:
- If YES: Epic 1 Story 1 must be "Set up initial project from starter template"
- Verify story includes cloning, dependencies, initial configuration
#### B. Greenfield vs Brownfield Indicators
Greenfield projects should have:
- Initial project setup story
- Development environment configuration
- CI/CD pipeline setup early
Brownfield projects should have:
- Integration points with existing systems
- Migration or compatibility stories
### 6. Best Practices Compliance Checklist
For each epic, verify:
- [ ] Epic delivers user value
- [ ] Epic can function independently
- [ ] Stories appropriately sized
- [ ] No forward dependencies
- [ ] Database tables created when needed
- [ ] Clear acceptance criteria
- [ ] Traceability to FRs maintained
### 7. Quality Assessment Documentation
Document all findings by severity:
#### 🔴 Critical Violations
- Technical epics with no user value
- Forward dependencies breaking independence
- Epic-sized stories that cannot be completed
#### 🟠 Major Issues
- Vague acceptance criteria
- Stories requiring future stories
- Database creation violations
#### 🟡 Minor Concerns
- Formatting inconsistencies
- Minor structure deviations
- Documentation gaps
### 8. Autonomous Review Execution
This review runs autonomously to maintain standards:
- Apply best practices without compromise
- Document every violation with specific examples
- Provide clear remediation guidance
- Prepare recommendations for each issue
## REVIEW COMPLETION:
After completing epic quality review:
- Update {outputFile} with all quality findings
- Document specific best practices violations
- Provide actionable recommendations
- Load {nextStepFile} for final readiness assessment
## CRITICAL STEP COMPLETION NOTE
This step executes autonomously. Load {nextStepFile} only after complete epic quality review is documented.
---
## 🚨 SYSTEM SUCCESS/FAILURE METRICS
### ✅ SUCCESS:
- All epics validated against best practices
- Every dependency checked and verified
- Quality violations documented with examples
- Clear remediation guidance provided
- No compromise on standards enforcement
### ❌ SYSTEM FAILURE:
- Accepting technical epics as valid
- Ignoring forward dependencies
- Not verifying story sizing
- Overlooking obvious violations
**Master Rule:** Enforce best practices rigorously. Find all violations.