Which phase of a waterfall approach focuses on defining a program's goals?

In the waterfall model, the analysis phase is crucial as it is where the program's goals and requirements are defined. This phase involves gathering and documenting what the stakeholders need from the software, including functionalities and performance expectations. It sets the foundation for the subsequent phases, ensuring that everyone involved has a clear understanding of the objectives that the program must achieve. Properly defining these goals during the analysis phase allows for a well-structured development process, reducing the likelihood of scope changes later on.

The other phases, while important in their own right, do not primarily focus on the initial goal setting. The implementation phase deals with the actual coding and construction of the program, the testing phase focuses on verifying that the program works as intended, and the maintenance phase is concerned with updating and fixing the software after it has been deployed. Thus, the emphasis on defining the program's goals aligns specifically with the analysis phase.