There's a time and place for democracy - but large IT projects are not. Do a thorough need analysis, compare with what's reasonably possible using COTS software, and adapt or discard what is not possible.
Ironically, my friend has programmed COBOL on DoD mainframes, and still does as a consultant, having interacted with them for decades. Back in the 1970s she had a surplus IBM minicomputer that her father brought home for business use, and learned COBOL on that, and used the computer for furthering her legal research.
This is the funniest possible response. The 'thorough need analysis' is the reason we are where we are now!
The thoroughness is so thorough that the needs change faster than the analysis can be completed, obviating the analysis in the first place.