This stage deals with determining what is needed and how best to provide it. Activities within this stage involve but are not necessary limited to the following:
- requirements gathering and analysis
- project definition and planning
- feasibility analysis (technical, financial, operational)
- RFP/RFQ management
- proof of concept / prototyping
- conceptual design
- solution options research, ranking, and selection
- funding acquisition and approval
Some best practices related to Discover, Analyze, & Recommend include the following: