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Team Skill 1 - Analyzing the Problem

Sriram Mohan/ Steve Chenoweth371

Ch 5 in Requirements Text

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Problem Analysis

“ the process of understanding real world problems, user needs and proposing solutions to meet those needs”

“ problem is defined as the difference between things perceived and things desired”

Not every problem needs a new solution

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The Five Steps in Problem Analysis

1. Gain agreement on the problem

2. Understand the root causes

3. Identify the stakeholders

4. Define the solution system boundary

5. Identify the constraints imposed on the solution

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Step 1: Identify Stakeholders

“ anyone who can be marginally affected by the implementation of a new system or application”

Who are the users? Who is the customer? Who else will be affected? Who will approve the system? Who will maintain the system?

Who else cares?

Class Project

This project you just work on in class – don’t take it outside the class at all.

“System that integrates micro-blogging services likes twitter to run in-class assessments and gather feedback during class. This could be generalized into a system that integrates with powerpoint and helps gather student feedback in classes. Faculty can conduct quizzes, gather data via polls, conduct plus delta etc.”

Team Work

As a team try to identify stakeholders for our sample project. I will be the client as far as the sample project is concerned, you can question us for 10 minutes and at the end of 10 minutes, type in your answers in a word document and turn it in using Angel (Lessons -In Class Activity – Week 1– Stakeholder Drop Box)

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The Five Steps in Problem Analysis

1. Gain agreement on the problem

2. Understand the root causes

3. Identify the stakeholders

4. Define the solution system boundary

5. Identify the constraints imposed on the solution

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Step 2: Agree on the Problem

Write the problem statement

A problem statement is the problem to be solved, written in a standardized format

It helps to know the benefits the proposed system will offer from a customers perspective.

There may be more than one statement.

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One Format for Problem Statements

The problem of: A description of the problem solved by the system Affects: The people affected by this new system And results in: The impact of the problem on stake-holders Solution Benefits: Indicate the solution and list a few benefits

Elevator Statement

According to Wikipedia

In business jargon an elevator statement (or elevator pitch) is a

short concise and compelling statement

about a business or a business situation that can be delivered in the time it takes for an imaginary elevator ride.

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Team Work

Download the template from Angel. (Lesson – Template). Once you are done drafting the problem statement and the elevator statement, turn it back in using Angel (Lesson – In Class Activity- Week 1– Problem Statement Drop Box). You have 10 minutes.

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The Five Steps in Problem Analysis

1. Gain agreement on the problem

2. Understand the root causes

3. Identify the stakeholders

4. Define the solution system boundary

5. Identify the constraints imposed on the solution

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Step 3: Find Root Causes

How do you find problems and their causes? Don’t assume

“ ask and ask again ”

Fishbone or Ishikawa (Kaoru Ishikawa) diagrams

Problem in head of fish Draw major bones for

different sources of the problem

Expand recursively.

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An Example Fishbone Diagram

LousyMeals

Same old

every day

Lous

yco

oksToo

far f

rom

supp

liers

Lousykitchen

Poor education

Poor attitude

Have

to g

et

up e

arly

Under

paid

Tool for Drawing Fish Bone Diagrams

Template on Angel [Lessons – Templates] Visio has a nice template Powerpoint http://www.classtools.net/main_area/fishbone.htm

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Extra Credit

Draw a fish bone diagram for the class sample project and turn it in by class time on Thursday via Angel ( Lessons – Extra Credit – Week 1 - Fish Bone Drop Box)

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