What is the primary goal of conducting a stakeholder analysis during requirements gathering?

The primary goal of conducting a stakeholder analysis during requirements gathering is to identify influential stakeholders and their interests. This process is crucial because stakeholders have varying degrees of influence and differing perspectives regarding the project. Understanding who the stakeholders are, what their roles entail, and how they will be affected by the project helps in aligning the requirements with their needs and expectations.

Identifying stakeholders and understanding their interests allows the project team to prioritize requirements effectively, ensure that critical voices are heard, and anticipate potential challenges or resistance from those who may be impacted by the outcomes. Ultimately, this analysis enhances collaboration and communication throughout the requirements-gathering process, leading to a more successful project alignment with organizational objectives.

The other options, while they may be relevant to some aspects of project management, do not capture the essential purpose of stakeholder analysis specifically during the requirements gathering stage. Recording all possible requirements focuses on documenting needs, establishing a budget pertains to financial planning, and outlining the project's timeline relates to scheduling—none of which address the critical aspect of understanding the stakeholder landscape that drives effective requirement identification and prioritization.