bmad-template/.trae/skills/bmad-validate-prd/steps-v/step-v-02b-parity-check.md

---
# File references (ONLY variables used in this step)
nextStepFile: './step-v-03-density-validation.md'
prdFile: '{prd_file_path}'
validationReportPath: '{validation_report_path}'
---

# Step 2B: Document Parity Check

## STEP GOAL:

Analyze non-standard PRD and identify gaps to achieve BMAD PRD parity, presenting user with options for how to proceed.

## 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 Validation Architect and Quality Assurance Specialist
- ✅ If you already have been given communication or persona patterns, continue to use those while playing this new role
- ✅ We engage in collaborative dialogue, not command-response
- ✅ You bring BMAD PRD standards expertise and gap analysis
- ✅ User brings domain knowledge and PRD context

### Step-Specific Rules:

- 🎯 Focus ONLY on analyzing gaps and estimating parity effort
- 🚫 FORBIDDEN to perform other validation checks in this step
- 💬 Approach: Systematic gap analysis with clear recommendations
- 🚪 This is an optional branch step - user chooses next action

## EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:

- 🎯 Analyze each BMAD PRD section for gaps
- 💾 Append parity analysis to validation report
- 📖 Present options and await user decision
- 🚫 FORBIDDEN to proceed without user selection

## CONTEXT BOUNDARIES:

- Available context: Non-standard PRD from step 2, validation report in progress
- Focus: Parity analysis only - what's missing, what's needed
- Limits: Don't perform validation checks, don't auto-proceed
- Dependencies: Step 2 classified PRD as non-standard and user chose parity check

## MANDATORY SEQUENCE

**CRITICAL:** Follow this sequence exactly. Do not skip, reorder, or improvise unless user explicitly requests a change.

### 1. Analyze Each BMAD PRD Section

For each of the 6 BMAD PRD core sections, analyze:

**Executive Summary:**
- Does PRD have vision/overview?
- Is problem statement clear?
- Are target users identified?
- Gap: [What's missing or incomplete]

**Success Criteria:**
- Are measurable goals defined?
- Is success clearly defined?
- Gap: [What's missing or incomplete]

**Product Scope:**
- Is scope clearly defined?
- Are in-scope items listed?
- Are out-of-scope items listed?
- Gap: [What's missing or incomplete]

**User Journeys:**
- Are user types/personas identified?
- Are user flows documented?
- Gap: [What's missing or incomplete]

**Functional Requirements:**
- Are features/capabilities listed?
- Are requirements structured?
- Gap: [What's missing or incomplete]

**Non-Functional Requirements:**
- Are quality attributes defined?
- Are performance/security/etc. requirements documented?
- Gap: [What's missing or incomplete]

### 2. Estimate Effort to Reach Parity

For each missing or incomplete section, estimate:

**Effort Level:**
- Minimal - Section exists but needs minor enhancements
- Moderate - Section missing but content exists elsewhere in PRD
- Significant - Section missing, requires new content creation

**Total Parity Effort:**
- Based on individual section estimates
- Classify overall: Quick / Moderate / Substantial effort

### 3. Report Parity Analysis to Validation Report

Append to validation report:

```markdown
## Parity Analysis (Non-Standard PRD)

### Section-by-Section Gap Analysis

**Executive Summary:**
- Status: [Present/Missing/Incomplete]
- Gap: [specific gap description]
- Effort to Complete: [Minimal/Moderate/Significant]

**Success Criteria:**
- Status: [Present/Missing/Incomplete]
- Gap: [specific gap description]
- Effort to Complete: [Minimal/Moderate/Significant]

**Product Scope:**
- Status: [Present/Missing/Incomplete]
- Gap: [specific gap description]
- Effort to Complete: [Minimal/Moderate/Significant]

**User Journeys:**
- Status: [Present/Missing/Incomplete]
- Gap: [specific gap description]
- Effort to Complete: [Minimal/Moderate/Significant]

**Functional Requirements:**
- Status: [Present/Missing/Incomplete]
- Gap: [specific gap description]
- Effort to Complete: [Minimal/Moderate/Significant]

**Non-Functional Requirements:**
- Status: [Present/Missing/Incomplete]
- Gap: [specific gap description]
- Effort to Complete: [Minimal/Moderate/Significant]

### Overall Parity Assessment

**Overall Effort to Reach BMAD Standard:** [Quick/Moderate/Substantial]
**Recommendation:** [Brief recommendation based on analysis]
```

### 4. Present Parity Analysis and Options

Display:

"**Parity Analysis Complete**

Your PRD is missing {count} of 6 core BMAD PRD sections. The overall effort to reach BMAD standard is: **{effort level}**

**Quick Summary:**
[2-3 sentence summary of key gaps]

**Recommendation:**
{recommendation from analysis}

**How would you like to proceed?**"

### 5. Present MENU OPTIONS

**[C] Continue Validation** - Proceed with validation using current structure
**[E] Exit & Review** - Exit validation and review parity report
**[S] Save & Exit** - Save parity report and exit

#### EXECUTION RULES:

- ALWAYS halt and wait for user input
- Only proceed based on user selection

#### Menu Handling Logic:

- IF C (Continue): Display "Proceeding with validation..." then read fully and follow: {nextStepFile}
- IF E (Exit): Display parity summary and exit validation
- IF S (Save): Confirm saved, display summary, exit
- IF Any other: help user respond, then redisplay menu

---

## 🚨 SYSTEM SUCCESS/FAILURE METRICS

### ✅ SUCCESS:

- All 6 BMAD PRD sections analyzed for gaps
- Effort estimates provided for each gap
- Overall parity effort assessed correctly
- Parity analysis reported to validation report
- Clear summary presented to user
- User can choose to continue validation, exit, or save report

### ❌ SYSTEM FAILURE:

- Not analyzing all 6 sections systematically
- Missing effort estimates
- Not reporting parity analysis to validation report
- Auto-proceeding without user decision
- Unclear recommendations

**Master Rule:** Parity check informs user of gaps and effort, but user decides whether to proceed with validation or address gaps first.