Which phase of the systems development life cycle documents current capabilities, identifies new needs, and defines the scope of the HRIS?

• A. Planning
• B. Analysis
• C. Design
• D. Implementation

Answer: (A)

Planning centers on shaping the project by taking stock of what exists, what’s needed, and how the work will be organized. In this phase you document current capabilities and processes, identify gaps and new needs, and define the scope of the HRIS project—the boundaries, objectives, constraints, budget, and timeline. That clear scope and understanding of existing vs. desired capabilities set the direction for the rest of the SDLC and ensure everyone agrees on what the HRIS should achieve.

The other stages focus more narrowly on later steps: analysis digs into detailed requirements and validates needs, design turns those requirements into a concrete solution blueprint, and implementation builds and deploys the system. These follow from the planning groundwork but aren’t the stage that primarily establishes the overall scope and preliminary inventory of current capabilities.