Why is it beneficial to perform stakeholder analysis before elicitation?

Performing stakeholder analysis before elicitation is beneficial primarily because it helps to understand the interests, influence, and priorities of different stakeholders. By conducting a thorough stakeholder analysis, a business analyst can identify who the stakeholders are, what their concerns and expectations might be, and how they can impact the project. This understanding is crucial for effective communication and ensuring that the right stakeholders are engaged during the elicitation process.

Understanding stakeholders' perspectives allows for tailored engagement strategies, which ultimately leads to a more productive elicitation process. It ensures that the needs and inputs of key stakeholders are captured accurately, which can help prevent misunderstandings or misalignments later on. Additionally, by assessing the influence of various stakeholders, the analyst can prioritize engagement efforts to align with stakeholder power dynamics, ensuring that high-impact stakeholders are given the necessary attention.

While it may seem that stakeholder analysis helps in making meetings easier or reducing the number of stakeholders, the primary value lies in gaining insights into their interests and influence, which enables more strategic decision-making and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle.