---
title: "Why Solutioning Matters"
description: Understanding why the solutioning phase is critical for multi-epic projects
---


Phase 3 (Solutioning) translates **what** to build (from Planning) into **how** to build it (technical design). This phase prevents agent conflicts in multi-epic projects by documenting architectural decisions before implementation begins.

---

## The Problem Without Solutioning

```
Agent 1 implements Epic 1 using REST API
Agent 2 implements Epic 2 using GraphQL
Result: Inconsistent API design, integration nightmare
```

When multiple agents implement different parts of a system without shared architectural guidance, they make independent technical decisions that may conflict.

---

## The Solution With Solutioning

```
architecture workflow decides: "Use GraphQL for all APIs"
All agents follow architecture decisions
Result: Consistent implementation, no conflicts
```

By documenting technical decisions explicitly, all agents implement consistently and integration becomes straightforward.

---

## Solutioning vs Planning

| Aspect   | Planning (Phase 2)      | Solutioning (Phase 3)             |
| -------- | ----------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| Question | What and Why?           | How? Then What units of work?     |
| Output   | FRs/NFRs (Requirements) | Architecture + Epics/Stories      |
| Agent    | PM                      | Architect → PM                    |
| Audience | Stakeholders            | Developers                        |
| Document | PRD (FRs/NFRs)          | Architecture + Epic Files         |
| Level    | Business logic          | Technical design + Work breakdown |

---

## Key Principle

**Make technical decisions explicit and documented** so all agents implement consistently.

This prevents:
- API style conflicts (REST vs GraphQL)
- Database design inconsistencies
- State management disagreements
- Naming convention mismatches
- Security approach variations

---

## When Solutioning is Required

| Track | Solutioning Required? |
|-------|----------------------|
| Quick Flow | No - skip entirely |
| BMad Method Simple | Optional |
| BMad Method Complex | Yes |
| Enterprise | Yes |

**Rule of thumb:** If you have multiple epics that could be implemented by different agents, you need solutioning.

---

## The Cost of Skipping

Skipping solutioning on complex projects leads to:

- **Integration issues** discovered mid-sprint
- **Rework** due to conflicting implementations
- **Longer development time** overall
- **Technical debt** from inconsistent patterns

Catching alignment issues in solutioning is 10× faster than discovering them during implementation.

---

## Related

- [Four Phases](./four-phases.md) - Overview of all phases
- [Preventing Agent Conflicts](./preventing-agent-conflicts.md) - Detailed conflict prevention
- [Create Architecture](../../how-to/workflows/create-architecture.md) - How to do it