In system development, what is a primary reason for documenting requirements?

Documenting requirements is crucial in system development primarily to ensure that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of and agree upon what the system needs to achieve. This process facilitates communication among various parties, such as business analysts, developers, project managers, and end-users. By having a well-documented set of requirements, teams can manage expectations, mitigate misunderstandings, and provide a reference point throughout the development lifecycle.

When stakeholders understand and agree on the requirements, it helps prevent scope creep, reduces the likelihood of costly revisions, and aligns everyone towards common goals. This collaborative approach is essential in project success, as differing interpretations of requirements can lead to discrepancies in the final product, dissatisfaction, and potential project failure.

While fulfilling legal obligations, creating a reference database, and limiting the project scope can all be associated with requirements documentation, they do not capture the primary purpose. The main objective is to promote a shared understanding among all those involved in the project, making option B the most accurate choice.