bi-agents/_bmad/wds/data/agent-guides/saga/working-with-existing-materials.md

Working with Existing Materials

Purpose: Guide for naturally incorporating existing materials into conversational PB workflow.

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Core Principles

1. Reference, don't re-ask - Build on documented work
2. Validate currency - "Is this still accurate?"
3. Focus on gaps - What's missing or needs refinement?
4. Document refinement - Capture UPDATE conversation, not just creation
5. Stay casual - No judgment about what exists or doesn't

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Checking for Materials

Phase 0 asks: "Do you have existing materials?" (website, brief, guidelines, research)

Stored in outline:

existing_materials:
  has_materials: true/false
  website: "[URL]"
  previous_brief: "[path]"
  brand_guidelines: "[path]"
  research: "[path]"
  context_notes: "[brief notes]"

If materials exist: Read them before starting PB steps

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Adaptation Pattern

Opening Adaptation

Without materials:

"Let's start with vision. What are you envisioning?"

With materials:

"I see you mentioned [reference from materials]. Let's build on that - tell me more."

Follow-Up Patterns

• Validate: "You wrote X - is that still accurate?"
• Fill gaps: "Your brief mentions Y, but I'm curious about Z..."
• Refine: "When you said X, did you mean [interpretation]?"
• Update: "Has your thinking evolved since you wrote this?"

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Step-by-Step Application

Apply to all conversational steps (2, 3, 5, 7, 7a, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12):

Step	No Materials	With Materials
Vision (2)	"What are you envisioning?"	"You mentioned [vision]. Tell me more."
Positioning (3)	"Let's explore positioning."	"Your brief positions this as [quote]. Still accurate?"
Users (7)	"Who are ideal users?"	"You described [archetypes]. Still primary users?"
Concept (7a)	"What's the core concept?"	"I see [concept from materials]. Tell me more about that principle."
Success (8)	"What does success look like?"	"You mentioned success means [quote]. Still the goal?"

Pattern: Reference existing → Validate → Build on it

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Dialog Documentation

When materials exist, capture:

1. What existed: Quote/summarize existing material
2. Validation: User's response to "Is this still accurate?"
3. Refinement: What changed, added, or clarified
4. Why: Rationale for changes
5. Synthesis: Updated version (old + new integrated)

Template:

**Existing context:** [What was documented]

**Opening:** "I see [reference]. [Question]"

**User response:** [Confirmed/refined/changed]

**Key exchanges:**
- [Exploration]
- [Gaps filled]
- [Evolution]

**Reflection checkpoint:**
"Building on your earlier work: [synthesis].
Keeps [solid parts], adds [new], refines [changed].
Does that capture it?"

**User confirmation:** [Confirmed / Corrected]

**Final:** [Updated artifact]

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Common Scenarios

Scenario: Previous brief exists

1. Read it thoroughly
2. Identify solid vs gaps/unclear
3. Open: "I read your brief. [Strong points] captured well. Questions about [gaps]."
4. Explore gaps conversationally
5. Dialog: what was there + what we added + why

Scenario: Existing website

1. Review site (if URL in materials)
2. Note current positioning/tone/UX
3. Reference: "I looked at your site. It positions you as [observation]. Still the direction?"
4. Use as baseline for "what's changing?"

Scenario: Brand guidelines exist

1. Read guidelines (voice, values, identity)
2. Reference when discussing tone: "Your guidelines describe tone as [quote]. Match exactly or evolve?"
3. Don't re-ask defined things (colors, values)
4. Focus on how brand translates to this project

Scenario: Research exists

1. Review findings
2. Reference insights: "Your research showed [finding]. Great insight for..."
3. Validate currency: "Is this still what you hear from customers?"

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What NOT to Do

❌ Ignore existing materials (if outline says they exist) ❌ Make users repeat documented work ❌ Assume everything is still current (validate!) ❌ Judge quality of existing work ❌ Create separate "refinement workflow" (same conversational pattern, just adapt openings)

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Benefits

✅ Efficiency - Don't re-explore documented areas ✅ Continuity - Build on previous work ✅ Respect - Acknowledge existing thinking ✅ Focus - Spend time on gaps/unclear areas ✅ Natural flow - Same pattern, context-aware ✅ Rich dialog - Captures refinement, not just creation

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Quick Reference

Check: existing_materials.has_materials in outline

If true:

1. Read materials before starting PB
2. Adapt openings to reference what exists
3. Validate currency with each step
4. Fill gaps conversationally
5. Document: old + new + why

Dialog pattern: Existing → Validate → Refine → Synthesize → Confirm

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Remember: Not a separate workflow - same conversational pattern, just context-aware. If materials exist, read and adapt. If not, explore from scratch. Either way, natural conversation.