1.2.5 Methods of obtaining requirements

• Methods of obtaining requirements include: Surveys, Interviews, Direct observation, Collecting documents
• Observation involves walking around the organization and watching how things are done
• Advantage of observation: First-hand, unbiased information
• Disadvantage of observation: Staff may not work the way they normally do
• Interviews involve interviewing key people within the system to find out how it works
• Advantages of interviews: Allows a lot of information to be gathered, personalized questions can be asked
• Disadvantage of interviews: Takes a long time
• Surveys involve handing out questions for people to fill out (multiple stakeholders)
• Advantages of surveys: Large amount of data can be gathered, quick to analyze, fairly simple
• Disadvantages of surveys: Difficult to ask the "right questions", information limited by questions, responses quality not ensured
• Collecting documents involves looking at the documents currently being used in the system to understand how the present system works
• Advantages of collecting documents: Detailed information can be gathered, problems in the old system can be identified
• Disadvantages of collecting documents: Time consuming, may be confusing