Which of the following activities is typically performed during the SDLC planning and requirements analysis phase?

The activity typically performed during the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) planning and requirements analysis phase is discussing business requirements. This phase is crucial because it involves gathering and understanding the specific needs and expectations of stakeholders, including clients and end-users. This is where the foundation of the project is established—prioritizing functionalities, documenting requirements, and aligning business goals with technological solutions.

During this initial phase, teams engage with stakeholders to clarify objectives, identify constraints, and determine project scope. By focusing on business requirements, the development team ensures that subsequent phases of the SDLC align with the actual needs of the organization, which is essential for creating effective solutions that deliver value.

In contrast, creating software architecture, testing the application, and deploying the application are activities that occur in later stages of the SDLC. The software architecture is typically designed and established after the requirements have been gathered, while testing is executed during the development and implementation phases. Deployment is the final stage, where the completed application is delivered to users. Recognizing this sequencing within the SDLC is key to understanding the planning and requirements analysis phase's role in the overall project lifecycle.