1. (a)(ii) Investigation
‘Fact Finding’

2. Investigation [12 marks]
this is all about fact finding & recording your findings
You need to find out:
details about the current methods of working
and the problems the current system cause
the requirements of the new system
what does the client want it to do?

3. Fact Finding methods interviews questionnaires observation
collection of current documents

4. Mark Scheme

5. Mark Scheme: Fact Finding
Current System:

6. Mark Scheme: Fact Finding
New System:

7. Tick Sheet:

8. What do I need to find out?
Current methods
Problems with current methods
Expectations of new solution

9. What do I need to find out?
What information is currently recorded & stored?
number of customers, items, orders per week, ….
predicted increase in customers, sales, products
existing codes & formats -> validation
ID codes - stock code, ISBN, membership number ….
limits - ages, sizes, quantities ….
Who does the recording?; How is it recorded?
Who uses the recorded information; How is it used? What is it used for?
Is there any paper output? – invoice, letter, lists ….
What?, Who?, How?
quality of documents currently given to customers
Security of information?
how long is information held? -> back up /archiving
what happens if the information is lost?
awareness of, & compliance with DPA?

10. What do I need to find out?
Problems
What’s bad about current methods?; What could be improved?
What day-to-day problems do you encounter?
Takes too long to …; Can’t find ….; Worry about losing ….
Expectations
What would you like to achieve from your new system?
How would you like to record information?
What would you like to be able to search for?
What would you like to be able to print out?
for the company; for the customer ….
Security
User login/password?
Backup copies of data
Be able to change user details
Speed/time constraints of new system
data entry, report generation, searches …..

11. What do I need to find out?
Current Hardware/Software
current hardware - CPU, RAM, HDD ….
installed operating system
installed generic software - Office/Access or other/no software?
current storage devices for backup, archiving or transferring data
available printers - types/speeds/colour?
size and type of current monitors - design v size, health & safety
networking equipment
Design
aesthetics
colour, layout, quantity of information ….
corporate colour scheme/logo/font
company headed paper; printed reports - colour, logo, font
ergonomics
ease of use; form controls v text boxes; validation to reduce errors
quality v speed of printed output; b/w v colour

12. Investigation into the current system
the original plan of the questions,
showing that all areas had been planned to be covered
sensible follow-up questions
to fill in gaps or to expand on points made
transcript of interview
further evidence of information collection 
further interviews with the client and/or end user
questionnaires, observations, documents, ……