What is the purpose of a 'discovery meeting'?

The purpose of a discovery meeting is fundamentally to gather preliminary information about a project, which includes understanding stakeholder needs and identifying key requirements. During this initial phase, project teams engage with stakeholders to explore their expectations, challenges, and objectives. This process is critical for establishing a shared understanding of project goals and ensuring that the data collected aligns with the business's strategic direction.

By focusing on stakeholder needs, the discovery meeting helps uncover insights that might not be immediately obvious, facilitating a more effective planning and execution process. This stage is essential in setting the foundation for the project’s success, as it informs further documentation, development efforts, and prioritization of tasks.

Other options, while relevant to project management, are not the primary purpose of a discovery meeting. Finalizing project deliverables and timelines typically occurs later in the project life cycle, once more is understood about stakeholder requirements. Discussing budget constraints tends to happen in a different context, often during resource planning phases. Training new employees on project protocols is a focused activity that does not pertain directly to the objectives of a discovery meeting. Thus, the emphasis in a discovery meeting distinctly lies in gathering information and understanding initial project dynamics.