What is the primary objective of the 'Plan' stage in software development?

The primary objective of the 'Plan' stage in software development involves organizing tasks, assigning roles, and preparing schedules. This stage is crucial as it sets the foundation for the entire project. During planning, teams need to outline what needs to be accomplished, define milestones, allocate resources, and establish timelines to ensure that the project stays on track.

Effective planning helps in identifying potential challenges early on and provides a roadmap for development teams. By assigning specific roles, it ensures that each team member understands their responsibilities, thereby enhancing collaboration and efficiency as the project progresses. Proper scheduling also contributes to timely delivery and allows for better management of dependencies between tasks.

While gathering requirements is important and falls within the planning phase, the overarching focus is on the coordination and organization necessary for executing the project. Tasks related to writing code, testing, and conducting user training come later in the software development lifecycle, after the planning stage has laid the groundwork for those activities.