What challenges do Business Analysts face during requirements elicitation?

During the requirements elicitation phase, Business Analysts encounter various challenges, and dealing with divergent stakeholder views and conflicting requirements is one of the most significant. This challenge arises because different stakeholders often have varied perspectives, interests, and priorities influenced by their roles within the organization. These differing viewpoints can lead to discrepancies in what the stakeholders believe the requirements should be, creating conflicts.

When Business Analysts engage with stakeholders, they must navigate these conflicting requirements to accurately capture the needs of the business. This may involve facilitating discussions, mediating between parties to identify common ground, and prioritizing requirements based on organizational goals. The ability to address and resolve these conflicts is crucial for ensuring that the final requirements align with stakeholder expectations and that the project can move forward smoothly.

While managing stakeholder expectations is important, it is just a part of the broader challenge. Gathering feedback from customers after project completion pertains more to project evaluation, and focusing solely on technical specifications disregards the need for considering business needs, user experience, and stakeholder input. Thus, the complexity of divergent views and conflicting requirements is pivotal in the requirements elicitation process.