What we think < Paralysis by consensus
When it comes to corporate web development, it is natural to want to fully consult with as many areas of the business as possible; as early as possible in the process and to create a comprehensive business problem statement from all the feedback. To understand how each area of the business will want / need to use the website.

From this consultation will come a list of all the functional requirements that the business needs from the website so as to meet all the anticipated user personas. And from this list will come the process of scoping out how the website will be constructed, what it will do, what it won't do, how it will look and how it is anticipated to engage.

This scoping process will also include developmental issues such as content management system requirements, required server capacity, hosting arrangements, technical maintenance and also 'business as usual' issues such as administration, support and publishing models.

All of this is fine and sensible; and should be undertaken for any web development project large or small. But whatever else you do, keep the project organisation team small and manageable; do not form a steering group. While dressed up as 'full business engagement' what you end up getting is paralysis by consensus where nothing ends up getting done.

Identify a representative from each departmental area, but come up with your plans and present these as the way forward. In this way, feedback will be progressive in identifying where the plan falls short or where it can be improved. Comments can be accumulated, actioned and then presented at the next group-wide meeting; where, again, comments on
the revisions should continue to be progressive.

Creativity is not a by-product of consensus. Come up with your ideas beforehand and consult individually if there's a need for departmental input. Bring the formalised ideas
to the group where they can be knocked around - but always in a forward direction.

This also shows that you're the leader on the project; with the emphasis on leading.