Chapter 2 FactFinding Techniques When Are FactFinding Techniques

Chapter 2 Fact-Finding Techniques

When Are Fact-Finding Techniques Used? There are many occasions for fact-finding during the database system development lifecycle. �fact-finding is particularly crucial to the early stages of the lifecycle including the database planning, system definition, and requirements collection and analysis stages.

What Facts Are Collected? �Aims and objectives of database project �Description of major user views �Requirements for user views, systems specifications, including performance and security requirements. �Users’ responses to checking the logical database design, functionality provided by target DBMS.

What Facts Are Collected? �Users’ responses to checking interface design �Functionality provided by target DBMS �Users’ responses to prototype �Functionality provided by target DBMS �Format of current data, data import capabilities of target DBMS �Test results �Performance testing results, new or changing user and system requirements.

Fact-Finding Techniques �A database developer normally uses several fact- finding techniques during a single database project. �There are five commonly used fact-finding techniques: � examining documentation. � interviewing. � observing the enterprise in operation. � research. � questionnaires.

Examining Documentation �By examining documents, forms, reports, and files associated with the current system, we can quickly gain some understanding of the system. �Examining documentation can be useful when we are trying to gain some insight as to how the need for a database arose.

Examining Documentation �Purpose of documentation �Describes problem and need for database �Describes the part of the enterprise affected by problem �Describes current system

Interviewing �We can interview to collect information from individuals face-to-face. �Interviewing is the most commonly used, and normally most useful, fact-finding technique. �There can be several objectives to using interviewing, such as finding out facts, verifying facts, clarifying facts, generating enthusiasm, getting the end-user involved, identifying requirements, and gathering ideas and opinions.

Interviewing �However, using the interviewing technique requires good communication skills for dealing effectively with people who have different values, priorities, opinions, motivations, and personalities. �There are two types of interview: unstructured and structured.

Observing the Enterprise in Operation �Observation is one of the most effective fact- finding techniques for understanding a system. �With this technique, it is possible to either participate in, or watch, a person perform activities to learn about the system. �This technique is particularly useful when the validity of data collected through other methods is in question or when the complexity of certain aspects of the system prevents a clear explanation by the end-users.

Research �A useful fact-finding technique is to research the application and problem. � Computer trade journals, reference books, and the Internet (including user groups and bulletin boards) are good sources of information. �They can provide information on how others have solved similar problems, plus whether or not software packages exist to solve or even partially solve the problem.

Questionnaires �Questionnaires are special-purpose documents that allow facts to be gathered from a large number of people while maintaining some control over their responses. �When dealing with a large audience, no other factfinding technique can tabulate the same facts as efficiently.

Questionnaires �Types of questions �Free format and fixed-format �Free-format questions offer the respondent greater freedom in providing answers. A question is asked and the respondent records the answer in the space provided after the question. �Fixed-format questions require specific responses from individuals. Given any question, the respondent must choose from the available answers.