This answer states that gathering requirements and analyzing them is the first step in the Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) process that should be taken for adding a custom field to a page layout in a sandbox for Universal Containers. ALM is a framework that defines and manages the stages involved in developing, testing, deploying, and maintaining a software application. ALM typically consists of these steps: gather requirements and analyze them, design and build solutions, test solutions, deploy solutions, and maintain solutions. Gathering requirements and analyzing them means that the BA identifies and understands the business needs and expectations of the stakeholders or users, and defines what the solution must do or have to meet them. References:
https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/content/learn/modules/application-lifecycle-and-development-models