How does prototyping aid in the elicitation process?

Prototyping plays a vital role in the elicitation process primarily because it allows stakeholders to visualize requirements and provide feedback on early versions of a product. By creating a prototype, which can be a working model or a simulation of the intended solution, stakeholders can better understand how the final product is intended to look and function. This tangible representation helps bridge the gap between abstract requirements and practical application.

When stakeholders interact with a prototype, they can identify gaps, clarify their needs, and make suggestions for adjustments. This real-time feedback is crucial for aligning the development efforts with actual stakeholder expectations and requirements. It promotes collaboration and communication, leading to more accurate and detailed specifications.

In contrast, the other options present approaches that may seem logical but do not capture the key advantage of prototyping in this context. For example, while prototyping does help in simplifying documentation to some extent, that is not its primary role. Similarly, ensuring requirements are locked before development contradicts the flexible nature of prototyping, which is meant to encourage iteration and change based on feedback. Lastly, longer feedback periods are not a direct benefit of prototyping; in fact, the process is often about obtaining quick, iterative feedback to refine requirements effectively.