researchphase

ResearchPhase is a preliminary stage in project workflows and scientific inquiry focused on information gathering, problem framing, and feasibility assessment. It is typically conducted before design, development, or implementation activities to reduce uncertainty by validating assumptions against evidence, existing knowledge, and stakeholder needs.

Core activities during ResearchPhase include literature review, stakeholder and user interviews, market and technical feasibility analyses, requirement elicitation, hypothesis formulation, experimental or study design, and the development of a data collection plan and risk assessment. Deliverables commonly produced in this phase include a research plan, literature review summary, problem statement, prioritized requirements, hypotheses, a feasibility report, a risk register, and an updated project scope.

In practice, ResearchPhase feeds subsequent phases such as design and implementation, informing decision points and gating the project with go/no-go decisions. In different domains, it aligns with discovery or exploratory phases, with variations in rigor, duration, and documentation. The emphasis is on evidence-based decision making and knowledge mapping to identify gaps and uncertainties, ensuring that later work addresses real needs and achievable objectives.

Common challenges during ResearchPhase include limited access to relevant data, bias in stakeholder input, scope creep, ambiguous objectives, and time or budget constraints. Success factors consist of clearly defined objectives, involvement of diverse stakeholders, transparent criteria for progressing to the next phase, and well-documented findings and assumptions that support traceability and repeatability of the process.