Obviate

Etymology

From Late Latin obviare, "to meet, oppose, withstand," from Latin obvius, "in the way," itself from ob viam, "in the way" (ob, "against," plus via, "road"). To obviate a problem is to meet it on the road before it reaches you — anticipating it so squarely that it is turned aside or rendered moot.

verb · /OB-vee-ayt/
To prevent a difficulty from arising, or to make it unnecessary.
What it names
The verb for heading a problem off in advance — arranging things so the trouble, or the need to deal with it, never comes up.
Example
A clear written brief at the start obviates most of the back-and-forth that derails these projects.
Related idea
Prevent stops something from happening; obviate often means removing the need for something — the problem never becomes a live issue.