To elicit the objectives, ask the business expert, the development manager, and the project sponsor the following questions −

●      What business objectives of the company will this project help achieve?

●      Why are we doing this project now?

●      What will happen if we do it later?

●      What if we do not do it at all?

●      Who will benefit from this project?

●      Do the people who will benefit from it consider it the most important improvement that can possibly be made at this time?

●      Should we be doing a different project instead?

Possible objectives might be reducing costs, improving the customer service, simplifying the work flow, replacing obsolete technology, piloting a new technology, and many others. Also, make sure you understand exactly how the proposed project will help accomplish the stated objective.