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Correct Course

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Streamline sprint change management with structured proposals.

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Free · Opens the source repo

What Correct Course does

Correct Course is a workflow skill designed to assist developers in managing significant changes during sprint execution. When a user triggers the skill with phrases like "correct course" or "propose sprint change," it initiates a structured process to analyze the impact of proposed changes across various project artifacts. This includes evaluating the Product Requirements Document (PRD), epics, architecture, and UX design elements to ensure that all aspects of the project are considered before implementing changes.

The skill operates by guiding the user through a series of steps that begin with resolving the workflow block, executing necessary activation steps, and loading essential project context. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the full scope of the project by loading all relevant documents and artifacts, which allows for a comprehensive assessment of the proposed changes. The output is an actionable Sprint Change Proposal that clearly outlines the necessary adjustments, ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and aligned.

Correct Course is particularly beneficial for teams that are working in agile environments where changes can occur frequently and need to be managed effectively. By providing a structured approach to change management, it helps prevent miscommunication and ensures that all changes are documented and communicated clearly. This skill is ideal for developers and project managers who need to navigate the complexities of sprint adjustments while maintaining project integrity.

Overall, Correct Course enhances the change management process, making it easier for teams to adapt to new information and requirements without losing sight of project goals and deliverables.

When to use it

Use this skill when significant changes are needed during a sprint and you want to ensure all project artifacts are considered.

When not to use it

This skill may not be suitable for minor adjustments or when no formal change proposal is necessary.

What you can build with it

Proposing a Major Feature Change

Use Correct Course when you need to propose a significant feature change that impacts multiple project artifacts.

Adjusting Sprint Goals Midway

When sprint goals need adjustment due to new insights, this skill helps structure the proposal effectively.

Coordinating Team Feedback on Changes

Utilize the skill to gather and document team feedback on proposed changes, ensuring alignment across all stakeholders.

How to install Correct Course

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add bmad-code-org/bmad-method/bmad-correct-course --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by bmad-code-org

Correct Course - Sprint Change Management Workflow

Goal: Manage significant changes during sprint execution by analyzing impact across all project artifacts and producing a structured Sprint Change Proposal.

Your Role: You are a Developer navigating change management. Analyze the triggering issue, assess impact across PRD, epics, architecture, and UX artifacts, and produce an actionable Sprint Change Proposal with clear handoff.

Conventions

  • Bare paths (e.g. checklist.md) resolve from the skill root.
  • {skill-root} resolves to this skill's installed directory (where customize.toml lives).
  • {project-root}-prefixed paths resolve from the project working directory.
  • {skill-name} resolves to the skill directory's basename.

On Activation

Step 1: Resolve the Workflow Block

Run: uv run {project-root}/_bmad/scripts/resolve_customization.py --skill {skill-root} --key workflow

If the script fails, resolve the workflow block yourself by reading these three files in base → team → user order and applying the same structural merge rules as the resolver:

  1. {skill-root}/customize.toml — defaults
  2. {project-root}/_bmad/custom/{skill-name}.toml — team overrides
  3. {project-root}/_bmad/custom/{skill-name}.user.toml — personal overrides

Any missing file is skipped. Scalars override, tables deep-merge, arrays of tables keyed by code or id replace matching entries and append new entries, and all other arrays append.

Step 2: Execute Prepend Steps

Execute each entry in {workflow.activation_steps_prepend} in order before proceeding.

Step 3: Load Persistent Facts

Treat every entry in {workflow.persistent_facts} as foundational context you carry for the rest of the workflow run. Entries prefixed file: are paths or globs under {project-root} — load the referenced contents as facts. All other entries are facts verbatim.

Step 4: Load Config

Load config from {project-root}/_bmad/bmm/config.yaml and resolve:

  • project_name, user_name
  • communication_language, document_output_language
  • user_skill_level
  • implementation_artifacts
  • planning_artifacts
  • project_knowledge
  • date as system-generated current datetime
  • YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT in your Agent communication style with the config {communication_language}
  • Language MUST be tailored to {user_skill_level}
  • Generate all documents in {document_output_language}
  • DOCUMENT OUTPUT: Updated epics, stories, or PRD sections. Clear, actionable changes. User skill level ({user_skill_level}) affects conversation style ONLY, not document updates.

Step 5: Greet the User

Greet {user_name}, speaking in {communication_language}.

Step 6: Execute Append Steps

Execute each entry in {workflow.activation_steps_append} in order.

Activation is complete. If activation_steps_prepend or activation_steps_append were non-empty, confirm every entry was executed in order before proceeding. Do not begin the main workflow until all activation steps have been completed.

Paths

  • default_output_file = {planning_artifacts}/sprint-change-proposal-{date}.md

Input Files

InputPathLoad Strategy
PRD{planning_artifacts}/*prd*.md (whole) or {planning_artifacts}/*prd*/*.md (sharded)FULL_LOAD
Epics{planning_artifacts}/*epic*.md (whole) or {planning_artifacts}/*epic*/*.md (sharded)FULL_LOAD
Architecture{planning_artifacts}/*architecture*.md (whole) or {planning_artifacts}/*architecture*/*.md (sharded)FULL_LOAD
UX Design{planning_artifacts}/*ux*.md (whole) or {planning_artifacts}/*ux*/*.md (sharded)FULL_LOAD
Spec{planning_artifacts}/*spec-*.md (whole)FULL_LOAD
Project ContextAGENTS.md in the affected repo (the bmad:context block)FULL_LOAD

Execution

Document Discovery - Loading Project Artifacts

Strategy: Course correction needs broad project context to assess change impact accurately. Load all available planning artifacts.

Discovery Process for FULL_LOAD documents (PRD, Epics, Architecture, UX Design, Spec):

  1. Search for whole document first - Look for files matching the whole-document pattern (e.g., *prd*.md, *epic*.md, *architecture*.md, *ux*.md, *spec-*.md)
  2. Check for sharded version - If whole document not found, look for a directory with index.md (e.g., prd/index.md, epics/index.md)
  3. If sharded version found:
    • Read index.md to understand the document structure
    • Read ALL section files listed in the index
    • Process the combined content as a single document
  4. Priority: If both whole and sharded versions exist, use the whole document

Discovery Process for Project Context:

  1. Read AGENTS.md in the repo the change affects — the block between the bmad:context markers carries the policy, frozen paths, and conventions a course correction must respect.
  2. Follow only the pointers that relate to the impacted areas — nested component files or linked rule files listed under "Where things are". Do not load them all.
  3. This document is optional — skip if the repo has no AGENTS.md (greenfield projects).

Fuzzy matching: Be flexible with document names — users may use variations like prd.md, bmm-prd.md, product-requirements.md, etc.

Missing documents: Not all documents may exist. PRD and Epics are essential; Architecture, UX Design, Spec, and Document Project are loaded if available. HALT if PRD or Epics cannot be found.

<workflow> <step n="1" goal="Initialize Change Navigation"> <action>Confirm change trigger and gather user description of the issue</action> <action>Ask: "What specific issue or change has been identified that requires navigation?"</action> <action>Verify access to project documents:</action> - PRD (Product Requirements Document) — required - Current Epics and Stories — required - Architecture documentation — optional, load if available - UI/UX specifications — optional, load if available <action>Ask user for mode preference:</action> - **Incremental** (recommended): Refine each edit collaboratively - **Batch**: Present all changes at once for review <action>Store mode selection for use throughout workflow</action>

<action if="change trigger is unclear">HALT: "Cannot navigate change without clear understanding of the triggering issue. Please provide specific details about what needs to change and why."</action>

<action if="PRD or Epics are unavailable">HALT: "Need access to PRD and Epics to assess change impact. Please ensure these documents are accessible. Architecture and UI/UX will be used if available."</action> </step>

<step n="2" goal="Execute Change Analysis Checklist"> <action>Read fully and follow the systematic analysis from: checklist.md</action> <action>Work through each checklist section interactively with the user</action> <action>Record status for each checklist item:</action> - [x] Done - Item completed successfully - [N/A] Skip - Item not applicable to this change - [!] Action-needed - Item requires attention or follow-up <action>Maintain running notes of findings and impacts discovered</action> <action>Present checklist progress after each major section</action>

<action if="checklist cannot be completed">Identify blocking issues and work with user to resolve before continuing</action> </step>

<step n="3" goal="Draft Specific Change Proposals"> <action>Based on checklist findings, create explicit edit proposals for each identified artifact</action>

<action>For Story changes:</action>

  • Show old → new text format

  • Include story ID and section being modified

  • Provide rationale for each change

  • Example format:

    Story: [STORY-123] User Authentication
    Section: Acceptance Criteria
    
    OLD:
    - User can log in with email/password
    
    NEW:
    - User can log in with email/password
    - User can enable 2FA via authenticator app
    
    Rationale: Security requirement identified during implementation
    

<action>For PRD modifications:</action>

  • Specify exact sections to update
  • Show current content and proposed changes
  • Explain impact on MVP scope and requirements

<action>For Architecture changes:</action>

  • Identify affected components, patterns, or technology choices
  • Describe diagram updates needed
  • Note any ripple effects on other components

<action>For UI/UX specification updates:</action>

  • Reference specific screens or components
  • Show wireframe or flow changes needed
  • Connect changes to user experience impact
<check if="mode is Incremental"> <action>Present each edit proposal individually</action> <ask>Review and refine this change? Options: Approve [a], Edit [e], Skip [s]</ask> <action>Iterate on each proposal based on user feedback</action> </check>

<action if="mode is Batch">Collect all edit proposals and present together at end of step</action>

</step> <step n="4" goal="Generate Sprint Change Proposal"> <action>Compile comprehensive Sprint Change Proposal document with following sections:</action>

<action>Section 1: Issue Summary</action>

  • Clear problem statement describing what triggered the change
  • Context about when/how the issue was discovered
  • Evidence or examples demonstrating the issue

<action>Section 2: Impact Analysis</action>

  • Epic Impact: Which epics are affected and how
  • Story Impact: Current and future stories requiring changes
  • Artifact Conflicts: PRD, Architecture, UI/UX documents needing updates
  • Technical Impact: Code, infrastructure, or deployment implications

<action>Section 3: Recommended Approach</action>

  • Present chosen path forward from checklist evaluation:
    • Direct Adjustment: Modify/add stories within existing plan
    • Potential Rollback: Revert completed work to simplify resolution
    • MVP Review: Reduce scope or modify goals
  • Provide clear rationale for recommendation
  • Include effort estimate, risk assessment, and timeline impact

<action>Section 4: Detailed Change Proposals</action>

  • Include all refined edit proposals from Step 3
  • Group by artifact type (Stories, PRD, Architecture, UI/UX)
  • Ensure each change includes before/after and justification

<action>Section 5: Implementation Handoff</action>

  • Categorize change scope:
    • Minor: Direct implementation by Developer agent
    • Moderate: Backlog reorganization needed (PO/DEV)
    • Major: Fundamental replan required (PM/Architect)
  • Specify handoff recipients and their responsibilities
  • Define success criteria for implementation

<action>Present complete Sprint Change Proposal to user</action> <action>Write Sprint Change Proposal document to {default_output_file}</action> <ask>Review complete proposal. Continue [c] or Edit [e]?</ask> </step>

<step n="5" goal="Finalize and Route for Implementation"> <action>Get explicit user approval for complete proposal</action> <ask>Do you approve this Sprint Change Proposal for implementation? (yes/no/revise)</ask> <check if="no or revise"> <action>Gather specific feedback on what needs adjustment</action> <action>Return to appropriate step to address concerns</action> <goto step="3">If changes needed to edit proposals</goto> <goto step="4">If changes needed to overall proposal structure</goto> </check> <check if="yes the proposal is approved by the user"> <action>Finalize Sprint Change Proposal document</action> <action>Determine change scope classification:</action>
  • Minor: Can be implemented directly by Developer agent
  • Moderate: Requires backlog reorganization and PO/DEV coordination
  • Major: Needs fundamental replan with PM/Architect involvement

<action>Provide appropriate handoff based on scope:</action>

</check> <check if="Minor scope"> <action>Route to: Developer agent for direct implementation</action> <action>Deliverables: Finalized edit proposals and implementation tasks</action> </check> <check if="Moderate scope"> <action>Route to: Product Owner / Developer agents</action> <action>Deliverables: Sprint Change Proposal + backlog reorganization plan</action> </check> <check if="Major scope"> <action>Route to: Product Manager / Solution Architect</action> <action>Deliverables: Complete Sprint Change Proposal + escalation notice</action>

<action>Confirm handoff completion and next steps with user</action> <action>Document handoff in workflow execution log</action> </check>

</step> <step n="6" goal="Workflow Completion"> <action>Summarize workflow execution:</action> - Issue addressed: {{change_trigger}} - Change scope: {{scope_classification}} - Artifacts modified: {{list_of_artifacts}} - Routed to: {{handoff_recipients}}

<action>Confirm all deliverables produced:</action>

  • Sprint Change Proposal document
  • Specific edit proposals with before/after
  • Implementation handoff plan

<action>Report workflow completion to user with personalized message: "Correct Course workflow complete, {user_name}!"</action> <action>Remind user of success criteria and next steps for Developer agent</action> <action>Run: uv run {project-root}/_bmad/scripts/resolve_customization.py --skill {skill-root} --key workflow.on_complete — if the resolved value is non-empty, follow it as the final terminal instruction before exiting.</action> </step>

</workflow>

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