Discovery Phase: Why an Analytical Stage Is Necessary Before Starting a Project

A well-begun project is already half of success. However, in software development, it’s not the start that matters most, but the solid foundation laid beforehand. The Discovery stage forms the basis of the future project, helping ensure that the idea is feasible and capable of competing in the market.

This stage also makes it possible to understand how to position the product, define its unique value, and identify which user needs it satisfies and which “pain points” it solves.

Discovery is a systematic data collection process that helps the team gain a deeper understanding of the client’s business goals, industry specifics, and user expectations. At this stage, the product vision is shaped, its key features and technical requirements are defined, and a document outlining the future development direction is created.

It is important to distinguish Discovery from the planning stage: while Discovery builds the foundation, planning specifies concrete implementation steps. All collected data helps determine a realistic project scope, establish deadlines, and create a Product Roadmap.

According to McKinsey analytics, 17% of IT projects fail due to internal company issues, 45% exceed their planned budget, and 56% do not deliver expected value.

The main reasons include:

• lack of resources;
• strong competition;
• errors in selecting the development team;
• absence of quality data or its analysis.

That’s why thorough completion of this stage significantly increases a business’s chances of joining the small percentage of truly successful projects. In modern conditions, starting development without analytical preparation is too risky. The Discovery phase should be seen as a mandatory starting point.

Why the Analytical Stage Is Needed

The main goal of analytics is to identify real user needs and the context in which they will interact with the product. This helps understand their motivations, expectations, and pain points, find new solutions to improve the user experience, and clarify what the final result should look like.

Duration of Discovery

For medium-complexity projects, this phase lasts 1–2 weeks, while large-scale solutions require 3–4 weeks. The duration depends on the complexity of the business logic, the number of stakeholders, and the depth of required research.

A product development team usually consists of both the client’s and the contractor’s representatives. Each participant has their own area of responsibility and contributes to forming a complete project picture.

Project Manager (PM)

Main role – to coordinate all processes and monitor task execution. The PM creates the work plan, defines deadlines, budget, and goals, ensures schedule adherence, and maintains effective communication between the team and the client.

Product Manager

This specialist is involved when creating a new product or startup. Their task is to define the concept of the future solution, analyze the market and competitors, and research the target audience (TA). Based on the collected data, they shape the product vision, key features, user value, and strategic development plan.

Developer

A specialist who evaluates the technical feasibility of the proposed solution. They suggest architecture, recommend optimal technologies, create prototypes, and test possible options. The developer also helps determine time and financial costs for implementing each feature.

Client-Side Team Lead

This client representative serves as a link between the customer and the development team. They clarify business tasks, provide access to internal resources, documents, and data, and assess the research results. Their decisions often define the direction of cooperation after the Discovery phase.

UX/UI Designer

If understanding the user experience is required during Discovery, a designer is involved. They help study user behavior, develop basic interface prototypes, and create usage scenarios. This specialist understands the client’s business logic and adapts the product to the target audience’s needs.

Additional Participants

Depending on project complexity, Discovery may also involve business analysts, marketers, data science specialists, or industry consultants. They enhance analytics and provide valuable expert insights.

Thorough preparation and detailed planning at the project start give the client several key advantages:

• Clarification of the concept and main idea based on real analysis, not just initial assumptions.
• Identification of weak points and nuances that may have been overlooked during initial discussions.
• Understanding user expectations and potential issues through competitive analysis.
• Receiving an independent expert evaluation of the project, implementation approaches, and alternative technical solutions.
• Formation of a structured list of user stories, ensuring a systematic approach to development.
• Balancing the client’s business interests with user expectations to achieve optimal results.
• Reducing the risk of costly revisions during development through clear requirement understanding.

All this provides a clear picture of the project and its goals from the very beginning, simplifies informed decision-making, and significantly increases the chances of successful product implementation.

The BuildApps team always analyzes how well the upcoming project aligns with the company’s current IT infrastructure, internal processes, and available resources. If necessary, we propose ways to optimize, update, or adapt existing systems.

Thanks to a deep understanding of the context, we find alternative solutions that the client might not have even considered. Often, these options turn out to be more effective and economically advantageous than the initial plan.

The outcome is a clear project document – the Product Vision, which includes:

• a description of the goals and objectives;
• the scope of work and implementation plan;
• a well-grounded budget estimate;
• identification of key benefits and value for both users and the business.

The Product Vision forms a shared understanding for the entire team – from developers to marketers – and helps maintain a unified direction at all stages of the project.

This document can also be used to attract investors or apply for funding, as it provides an accurate and structured evaluation of the project.

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