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.