What is the primary role of requirements life cycle management (LCM)?

The primary role of requirements life cycle management (LCM) is to manage and maintain requirements throughout the entire life cycle of a project or system. This involves systematically overseeing the evolution of requirements from their inception through to their implementation, ensuring they are traceable, validated, and aligned with the business needs.

Managing and maintaining requirements includes several key activities such as tracking changes, ensuring consistency, and facilitating communication among stakeholders. It also encompasses the continuous alignment of requirements with the project's goals and objectives, helping to clarify priorities and manage expectations. By effectively managing the requirements, organizations can reduce the risk of scope creep and misunderstandings, enhancing overall project success.

In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of the project management process that occur alongside or after the requirements have been established. While gathering requirements is an essential initial phase, it is just the starting point of the LCM process. Designing solutions and implementing changes are dependent on the valid, managed requirements that LCM provides. Therefore, the focus on managing and maintaining requirements is central to ensuring the long-term success and alignment of solutions with business needs.