A. Analyze
Define what must change and why.
The Analyze stage interprets what Reality found. It identifies root causes, defines what must change, surfaces risks and constraints, and makes the reasoning visible, so that Choose has a solid evidence base for evaluating alternatives.
The Question This Stage Answers
What genuinely needs to change, and why?
The Output: The Change Package
The Change Package must answer:
- What is the root cause of the problem?
- What must be true for this work to succeed?
- Why does each requirement exist?
- What risks, constraints, and assumptions affect the solution space?
The Change Package is the full analytical case for change. Every item is traceable to its source and the outcome it serves.
Analyze also refines the Target Brief. Initial outcomes become specific and measurable as understanding deepens.
Format scales to context. A programme gets a structured Change Package with full traceability. A backlog item gets a clear problem statement and acceptance criteria. The reasoning it makes visible is not optional.
What Success Looks Like
You can explain not just what needs to change, but why. That explanation is grounded in evidence from Reality, traceable to the purpose in Target, and agreed by stakeholders.
Commitment Checklist
Do not proceed until:
- Root causes are identified and supported by evidence
- Requirements are traceable to a cause, a source, and an outcome
- Risks, constraints, and assumptions are surfaced
- Target outcomes are refined based on what was learned
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Change Package? The Change Package is the output of the Analyze stage. It is the full analytical case for change: root causes, requirements with traceability, and a clear picture of risks and constraints.
What is the difference between Reality and Analyze? Reality collects and validates. Analyze interprets. Reality answers "what is true?" Analyze answers "what does it mean, and what must change?"
Why trace requirements to their source? Requirements without traceability cannot be defended or prioritized. When scope pressure arrives, traceable requirements allow deliberate trade-offs rather than arbitrary cuts.