What does 'requirements elicitation' involve?

Requirements elicitation is a critical phase in the systems analysis and design process that focuses on gathering and understanding the needs, expectations, and constraints of users and stakeholders regarding a proposed system or solution. This involves utilizing various techniques such as interviews, surveys, questionnaires, workshops, and observation. The ultimate goal of this process is to ensure that the developers have a clear and comprehensive understanding of what is required to meet the users' needs and to successfully support the goals of the organization.

By effectively engaging with stakeholders during this phase, analysts can identify not only the functional requirements but also non-functional requirements, helping to prevent misunderstandings or misalignments later in the development process. This thorough collection of information lays the foundation for the design and implementation of a system that meets real-world demands.

In contrast, other options focus on different aspects of the systems development lifecycle, such as testing functionalities, training users, and managing change during implementation. While those elements are crucial to a successful project, they are not part of the requirements elicitation process.