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Fact Finding and RequirementsCapture Techniques
Where are facts found?
Strategic planscompany accounts –sales orders/purchase
ordersorganisation charts procedure manuals quality documentationjob descriptions
schedules training manualssales and marketing literature etc.
Existing Systems Documentation
Forms Files/Databases Records Company
Stationery Reports Memos etc.
External to the company
Essentially background research but useful for not looking a
complete ….. Internet Journals User groups Consultants
Internet
NewsgroupsBias towards the negative
Web pagesBias towards the positive
EmailWho?
JournalsTrade v general
Good overview of industry but may not be specific for a particular company
Where do you get them from ?LibrarySubscriptionInternet
User groupsMost widely available products will have an
associated user group networkIndependent ?Negative ?
ConsultantsSpecialist in field
Where to find them Computacenter holds a government approval list of
firms call SCAT Trade journals etc.
Cost ?Really needed ?When to use ?
Process Modelling?How data is recorded
What process there are or required ?What it is used for
and perhaps what it could be used for ?Who uses it
and who wants toand why ?
Value add!What additional information could be provided
and why it isn’tProblems
there should be, it’s the reason you’re therePossible solutions
perhaps not ?Are “the users always right” ?
TECHNIQUES-InterviewsInterviews
Structured v Unstructured
Requires Planning - Who What about
AdvantagesFlexible (unstructured or semi approach)Discovery of dataIdeal for gaining ideasFace to faceUser involvement
DisadvantagesTime consumingBias Interpretation
Techniques - Focus GroupsMeetings held with groups of people with
something in commonArea managersTechnical support techniciansWomen
AdvantagesFind out a lot about a certain area of the
enterprise in terms of their part in the procedures and operations
DisadvantagesDo not represent the whole view of a process
and are therefore biased
TECHNIQUES-Questionnaires
QuestionnairesQuestions -
open ended closed mix
Design in the key Poor questionnaire, poor results No bias questions
AdvantagesUseful for large volumesGeographic splitDirectedUser involvement
DisadvantagesDifficult to designReturn rateAnd if you’ve missed
something
TECHNIQUES - SamplingUsed in all fact finding exercises
Used in any type of fact finding Soil Water in a swimming pool
A small sample is taken to represent the whole
SamplingAdvantages
More control owing to smaller numbers.Less time
DisadvantagesHow is the sample chosen?Is it really representative?
ObservationCovert or Overt?Planned or unplanned? Must be properly documented
AdvantagesAdvantages -
Participationconcentration not easy but can sometimes see the obvious
Disadvantages- Detrimental effect disturbing normal working practices, time consuming
Fact Finding Plan!Need to use time and resources effectively.One possible approach follows:
Use observation to identify useful contacts and important processes.
Interview a few carefully chosen personnelFollow up on interesting or unclear areas with
further interviews, focus groups or questionnaires.