The purpose of this research is to identify options for enhancing the value of the scoping stage to the overall project development process. 

The scope of this research is limited to the steps leading up to scoping (specifically, planning and programming) and the scoping process itself.  Within the scoping process, development and documentation of the project’s purpose and need, stakeholder support, evaluation of alternatives, environmental impacts, and degree of consensus on major design features are components whose examination may facilitate the project development processes.