What is the primary goal of requirements elicitation in business analysis?

The primary goal of requirements elicitation in business analysis is to gather and clarify stakeholder needs. This process is essential because it involves actively engaging with stakeholders to understand their desires, challenges, and constraints regarding a project or initiative. By obtaining this information, business analysts can ensure that the final solution meets the expectations and requirements of all involved parties.

Requirements elicitation is about building a clear understanding of what stakeholders really want and need, which helps in defining the scope of the project effectively. This clarity helps in reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings that can lead to project failure or rework later on. By focusing on stakeholder needs, business analysts can lay a strong foundation for successful project delivery, ensuring that outcomes align with strategic objectives.

While documenting existing processes, prioritizing project tasks, and reducing project costs are all important aspects of project management and business analysis, they are not the main focus of the elicitation phase. Instead, these activities often come later in the project lifecycle, once a solid understanding of requirements has been established.