Elicitation is the systematic discovery, collection, and clarification of requirements from relevant sources.
Sources may include stakeholders, documents, existing systems, observations, and regulations. Therefore, teams must identify suitable sources before they select a technique.
Common techniques include interviews, workshops, surveys, observation, and document analysis. For example, observation can reveal actual work practices. In contrast, workshops can support shared decisions.
First, teams define the objective and expected result. Next, they select suitable sources and methods. Then, they document the findings and link them to their origin. Finally, stakeholders review and confirm the results.
The process may reveal missing information, hidden needs, conflicts, and assumptions. Moreover, teams often repeat the activity as their understanding develops.
Effective elicitation creates a reliable foundation for clear, complete, and relevant requirements.
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