This makes a lot of sense. As a consultant, I consider the most valuable and important service I offer to be analyzing, simplifying, and focusing a project's go

This makes a lot of sense. As a consultant, I consider the most valuable and important service I offer to be analyzing, simplifying, and focusing a project's goals and requirements. If this part of the process goes well, it's usually smooth sailing on the design and implementation. If it gets impeded by obstinance, scope creep, or indecision, the project is probably doomed from the start. Being handed a pile of requirements that are sloppy and contradictory and then being told they are non-negotiable is kind of like being asked to build a submarine out of swiss cheese. No amount of money or expertise can make that work.