Fact Finding (Capturing Requirements) Systems Development
Overview Approaches to Fact Finding Sampling Investigating Documents Interviewing Questionnaires Observation Summary
Approaches to Fact Finding Main approaches used are: Investigating Documents Interviewing Questionnaires Observation Analyst must decide: What data should be gathered What approach should be used ?
Sampling Systematic selection of representative elements of a project goal. Typical decisions Many reports, forms, documents, memos in an organization relating to a system Which should be used, which ignored ? Many employees affected by planned system which are interviewed, receive questionnaires are observed ?
Sampling Design Four Steps: Determine the data to be collected or described Determine the products / services to be sampled Choose the type of sample Decide on the sample criteria
Choosing Sample Type Not based on probability Selection without restrictions: Convenience Selection according to specific criteria: Purposive Based on probability Selection without restrictions: Simple Random Selection according to specific criteria: Complex random
Investigating Documents (Hard Data) Type of data found: quantitative and qualitative Quantitative Reports made for decision making Performance reports Records Data capture forms
Investigating Documents Qualitative Memos Notices on boards Procedure manuals Policy handbooks
Interviewing Interviews reveal Feelings, Opinions, Informal procedures, Goals of interviewee Can help interviewer to “sell the system”
Interviewing Six steps in interviewing Read background material and establish interviewing objectives Decide who to interview Prepare the interview Carry out interview Prepare written report Review with interviewee
Questionnaires Questionnaires reveal Attitudes, Beliefs, Behavior, Characteristics of respondents Use when lots of people involved with system, or people are difficult to visit.
Questionnaires Can be used in conjunction with interviews Can be used to focus in on problem areas to consider in interviews Can be used to test out opinions uncovered in interviews Written format, should consider logical presentation, ordering of questions consistent style use of “white space”
Questionnaires Based on written questions and responses Use mixture of open and closed questions choice of words important, avoid use of jargon should be free of bias Effort should be made to use scales - even when open questions are posed allow quantification of results Questions must be valid and reliable Valid: measures what was intended Reliable: results are consistent
Observation Observation reveals Activities, Information Sharing, Task Interaction, Social Characteristics of Organization
Observation Need to decide which activities to observe when to observe whether to use time or event sampling whether to be neutral observer or active participant how to record information revealed
Summary There are four main approaches for gathering information analyzing hard data, interviewing, using questionnaires and observation These are all time consuming if done properly The four main approaches can be used in a complementary fashion
Summary To maximize the benefit that can be gained from data gathering it is advisable to explicitly construct the sample sets that will be used for any one approach. Gathering relevant data is crucial to any analysis activity whether it is as part of a systems development project or a research project.