What is the main focus of the Planning phase in business analysis?

The main focus of the Planning phase in business analysis is to define the scope, objectives, and deliverables of the project. This phase is crucial because it establishes a clear understanding of what the project aims to achieve and how it will do so. By clearly defining the scope, the team can delineate what is included in the project and what is not, preventing scope creep and ensuring that all stakeholders have aligned expectations. Setting objectives provides measurable criteria for success, and specifying deliverables helps in outlining the tangible outcomes that stakeholders can expect.

A focus on gathering stakeholder feedback is vital but falls under a different phase, as the gathering of feedback typically occurs in exploratory or requirement-gathering activities rather than the planning activities. Similarly, the implementation of project management tools is a supportive task rather than a primary focus of the Planning phase. Delivering project results to stakeholders is an outcome of the execution and closing phases, rather than a focus of planning. Thus, it is the definition of the project's scope, objectives, and deliverables that anchors the Planning phase, providing a structured foundation for the remainder of the business analysis process.