What is meant by a 'Requirements Freeze'?

A 'Requirements Freeze' refers to a critical milestone within a project lifecycle, specifically indicating a point at which no further changes to the requirements are accepted. This phase is essential for ensuring that the development team can proceed with the design and implementation based on a stable set of requirements.

Once the requirements freeze is enacted, the focus shifts from gathering and modifying requirements to other aspects of the project, such as development, testing, and implementation. This prevents scope creep, which can derail project timelines and budgets by continually adding new requirements or modifying existing ones.

The significance of this phase cannot be overstated; it helps in maintaining project control, ensuring that all stakeholders have a common understanding of what the final deliverable will include. It also allows for resource allocation to be based on a clear set of expectations and deliverables.

In contrast, the other answers do not accurately describe the concept of a requirements freeze. While budget reviews, project completion, and final testing are all important aspects of a project lifecycle, they do not capture the essence of what a requirements freeze entails.