Chapter 5 - Investigation Techniques Flashcards
What prior research should an analyst do when engaging with a client?
Study website for values and branding
Study Companies House reports
Study procedure manuals and docs
Study organisation chart
What objectives can be achieved in an Interview?
Initial contact with stakeholders
Build rapport
Acquire information about the business situation
Discover different stakeholder perspectives and priorities
What three areas are considered during requirements interviews?
Current functions that need to be fulfilled in new system
Problems that need to be addressed
Additional features required
What are advantage of Interviews?
Build rapport
Gather important info
Understand different viewpoints
Opportunity to investigate areas not previously mentioned
Appreciation of political factors
What are disadvantages of Interviews?
Take time
Info may just be opinion
What framework can be used to prepare for Interviews?
Who? Why? What? When? Where?
What is the structure of an Interview?
Introduction and Scene setting
Questions and Answers
Summarise next steps
What are advantages of observation?
Better understanding of problems faced by business user
Help prepare for more in-depth interview
Help devise workable solutions
What is the danger of formal observation?
Shown standard practice without everyday variances
What is protocol analysis?
User carries out a task and describes each step they perform
What is shadowing?
Following a user for a period to find out what a particular job entails
What is Ethnographic studies?
Spending an extended period of time in the target environment.
What is the main value gained from ethnography?
Appreciation of intangible aspects such as culture and power influences.
What are the advantages of Workshops?
Broad view
Less time consuming
Obtain buy-in and acceptance for project
Gain consensus view
What are disadvantages of Workshops?
Difficult to organise
Forceful participant may dominate discussion.
Difficult to endure participants have required level of authority
What areas should be planned ahead of a Workshop?
Objective
People invited
Structure and techniques
Suitable venue
What discovery techniques can be used in a Workshop?
Round robin
Brainstorming
Brainwriting
Post-it Exercise
Stepwise refinement
Break-out Groups
What visualisation techniques can be used in a Workshop?
Process models
Rich pictures
Mind maps
Context diagrams
Use case diagrams
Task scenarios
User Stories
What is brainstorming?
Participants call out ideas
What is round robin?
Participants asked for their ideas in turn
What is brainwriting?
Participants write their ideas down