What is an effective method for confirming stakeholder needs during the elicitation process?

Prototyping is an effective method for confirming stakeholder needs during the elicitation process because it allows stakeholders to visualize and interact with a preliminary version of the product or solution. This hands-on experience enables them to provide immediate feedback regarding their requirements and expectations. By creating a tangible representation of the proposed solution, business analysts can ensure that stakeholders are aligned with the vision, facilitate discussions around features and functionalities, and identify any gaps or misunderstandings early in the project. This iterative approach fosters collaboration and helps to refine requirements in real time, leading to a more accurate understanding of stakeholder needs.

While surveys and focus groups are valuable tools for gathering information, they may not capture the dynamic aspects of user interaction as effectively as prototyping. Email communication, while useful for documentation and follow-ups, tends to lack the interactive element necessary for confirming nuanced stakeholder requirements.