During which phase does the focus shift to identifying project requirements and validating the solution?

The phase where the focus shifts to identifying project requirements and validating the solution is the Explore phase. During this phase, project teams engage in detailed discussions and workshops to gather requirements directly from stakeholders. This collaborative effort allows teams to understand the specific needs and expectations of the business, ensuring that the solution being designed aligns well with these requirements.

As part of the Explore phase, teams typically conduct fit-gap analysis activities to determine how the standard functionalities of the solution can be adapted to meet the project's goals. This phase may also involve prototyping and iterative validations to explore different design options, ensuring that all necessary features and functionalities are identified early in the project lifecycle.

Overall, the Explore phase is crucial because it sets the foundation for future development work by confirming that the planned solution accurately reflects the business’s needs and that any potential gaps or adjustments are identified and planned for. This attention to detail in requirements gathering and validation helps minimize risks and rework later in the project.