Download - ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 1/30
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 2/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
2
Data gathering techniques
Interviews
Questionnaires
ObservationJAD sessions
Sampling
Previous project reports
System documentation
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 3/30
Interviewsgenerally the most important and widely-used
method for data gathering
may be formal and structured or informal andunstructured
may be done with groups or individuals
17 March, 2011 3ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 4/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
4
Interview advantages
Suitable for extensive and complex information
Reveals insights, opinions, politics and informal
proceduresAllows for feedback on comments thus
revealing attitudes of subjects
Establishes rapport between analysts, subjects
Veracity cues available from body language
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 5/30
Interview planning
Decide who to interview
Get background information
Plan your questionsestablish your objectives
what do you expect them to know
do you give the interviewee a copy of the
questions?
17 March, 2011 5ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 6/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
6
Interview planningEstablish your objectives
Identify the most appropriate subjects
Get background informationPlan your questions:
question sequence – funnel, pyramid
question style – open, closed, probe, mirror
Send questions to subject in advance?
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 7/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
7
Useful interview heuristicsAsk about traffic volumes – high, low, typical
Triangulate the responses you receive
Be prepared to accept inconsistencies - they
do exist
Always confirm that you have correctlyinterpreted what the interviewee said
Immediately write up the interview report as a
primary source document for analysisUse recording devices if possible, for accuracy
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 8/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
8
Obstacles to a good interviewPerceived threat to self image, status
Emotional reactions to sensitive subjects
Genuinely forgetting key facts
Lying to hide key facts
Mistaking inference for observation
Rival demands for time (trivialisation)
Unacknowledged bias
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 9/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
9
Disadvantages of interviewsInterviews take a lot of time both for
interviewer and interviewee
They are often difficult to organise
Success is heavily dependent on the inter-
personal skills of the interviewer
a poorly conducted interview not only fails
to get you the information you need, it can
also make the person you interviewed
antagonistic to you and to the whole project
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 10/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
10
Post-Interview write-up
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 11/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
11
QuestionnairesA number of written questions are sent to the
participants for a written response
The questionnaire responses can take many forms:
write specific comments about a situationselect from a list of provided responses (multi-choice)
fill in the blank
indicate response on a Likert scale (rating scale)
Permit quantitative and qualitative answers
May lack credibility due to its impersonal nature
Typically suffer from low response rates
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 12/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
12
Good questionnaireshave:
validity
reliabilityface validity
a design which caters for the way you willanalyse them
easy administration and scoring
and are ALWAYS piloted
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 13/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
13
Questions should be:Appropriate for the respondents
Worded precisely and accurately
Designed for easy scoringGrouped for similarity of information content
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 14/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
14
Questionnaire advantagesAn economical method for gathering data from
large numbers of people
Fast and easy to implement and administer
with minimal logistical problemsResults can be tabulated rapidly and analysed
readily
Allow respondents to be anonymous, therefore
more likely to be truthful (?)Gives respondents time to consider their
answers
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 15/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
15
Questionnaire disadvantagesEffective questionnaires are difficult toconstruct
They produce only specific and limitedamounts of information
Frequently suffer from low return ratesleading to possible statistical bias
Provide no opportunity to clarify vague orincomplete answers or misinterpreted
questions
Lack non-verbal cues to communication
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 16/30
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 17/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
17
Observation: AdvantagesAnalyst can see exactly how the work is done
Provides specific details of processes in a way
that no other data gathering method canemulate
Requires no direct input from participants: is
therefore often cheap and easy to arrange
Enables precise measurement of aspects ofwork
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 18/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
18
Observation: DisadvantagesCan only show current processes
Time-dependence of some tasks can give misleadingideas about some aspects of the system e.g. observe
work at peak time vs. observe at low pressure timeTends to emphasise physical work flows at the expense
of other forms of information e.g. the nature of theprocesses can be hidden behind physical activity
Can introduce Hawthorne-effect biases where people
behave differently from normal when observed
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 19/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
19
Reports and SystemDocumentationExisting written records which are a valuable source of
data about the system and the organisation
May include information about:
the organisation, its people and policies
high level business functions and objectives
the system and its input forms, manuals, etc
the technical environment for system developmentMay include informal material used by people involved
with the system
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 20/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
20
Reports and Documentation:AdvantagesIts existence and authorship is unchallenged
It is generally easily availableIt may provide very detailed and precise
information (especially with complex or
technical material)
It may provide valuable background materialto an interview or observation session
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 21/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
21
Reports and Documentation:Disadvantages
It will almost certainly be old and out of date
(often, with no modification history)It is subject to interpretation and does not
permit further explanation or clarification
unless the author is present
It will focus on the particular aspects of theprevious analysis – maybe not relevant
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 22/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
22
Joint ApplicationDevelopment: JAD
Read Chapter 4, pp132-136 for a detailed
treatment of JAD
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 23/30
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 24/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design,
Semester 1, 2011 Includes John Wiley&
Sons Inc © material
24
The JAD SessionTend to last 5 to 10 days over a 3 week period
Prepare questions as for interviews
Provide a formal agenda and ground rules
Facilitator activities:
Keep the session on track
Help with technical terms and jargon
Record group input
Help resolve issues
Post-session follow-up
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 25/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design,
Semester 1, 2011 Includes John Wiley&
Sons Inc © material
25
Problems in JAD SessionsReducing domination by pushy personalities
Encouraging non-contributors
Stopping side discussionsAgenda merry-go-round: avoiding hobby-horses
Violent disagreement from terminologymismatch/misunderstanding
Unresolved conflict
True conflictUse subtle humor, not jokes
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 26/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
26
Data Gathering outcomes
Give a clear understanding of:
how the system works at present
how it fits in to the current organisation
what problems there are at present
what opportunities there are for improvement
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 27/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
27
Data gathering outcomes
It is impossible to discuss all aspects of the systemwith all those involved, there will always be gapsin the analyst's understanding
Understanding and interpretation of events
depends on one’s perspective: client andanalyst
It may be impossible to reconcile the views ofindividuals with different perspectives
Organisational and system environments changeso quickly that any data gathered are soon out ofdate
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 28/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
28
The System Proposal
Also known as the Functional Requirements
Specification (FRS)
Requirements Gathering provides the raw
material for the FRS document.
The FRS is the plan for the technical
development of the new Information
System
Data gathered is represented as graphical
models (following lectures) and as
descriptive text in the FRS
8/6/2019 ICT117 Week05 Data Gather Techniques s
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict117-week05-data-gather-techniques-s 29/30
17 March, 2011 ICT117 Systems Analysis & Design, Semester 1, 2011
Includes John Wiley& Sons Inc © material
29
Statement of business problem
Feasibility analysis of solution
Models of current system (optional)Models of required system functions
Description / models of Human-Computerinterfaces
Models of required data structuresDescription of non-functional requirements(refer to Figure 4-14, pg 145 for a template)
Functional Requirements
Specification