Which of the following is the first stage of the System Development Life Cycle?

The first stage of the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is indeed planning. During this stage, the primary focus is on understanding the goals and objectives of the project and outlining the scope of the system to be developed. Planning involves gathering requirements from stakeholders, establishing a budget, defining resources, and setting timelines. It serves as a foundation upon which subsequent stages, such as analysis, design, and implementation, are built. This stage is crucial because it sets the direction and priorities for the entire project, helping ensure that the development team and stakeholders are aligned from the outset.

In the following stages, which build off the planning phase, more detailed work takes place, but without a solid planning stage, projects may lack a clear path and purpose. This highlights the importance of planning as the groundwork for successful system development.