A database developer normally uses several fact-finding techniques during a single database project. The five most commonly used techniques are examining documentation, interviewing, observing the business in operation, conducting research, and using questionnaires. Describe each fact-finding technique and identify the advantages and disadvantages of each.

AND explain how you would apply 3 of those techniques if you were asked to collect information regarding how to improve the learning management system 

step: 1 of 4

The most commonly used fact-finding techniques are:

• Examining documentation

• Interviewing

• Observing the business in operation

• Research

• Questionnaires

Examining Documentation:

• By examining documentation, the analyst can gain knowledge about the current system and the reason for the need for a new/modified system.

• Examining documentation involves studying the program documentation, forms, reports, user manuals etc.

Advantages:

• A clear understanding about the various processes of the current system is obtained.

Disadvantages:

• The problems faced by the users of the system cannot be identified.

step: 2 of 4

Interviewing:

• The most commonly used fact-finding technique is interviewing.

• The objectives of interviewing are to find the reason for the new system, identifying requirements for the new system, problems faced with the current system etc.

Advantages:

• Interviewing allows the interviewee to freely respond to questions.

• It also allows the interviewee to feel that he involved in the project.

• Interviewers will follow up the comments made by the interviewee.

• Interviewers will adopt questions during interview.

• Interviewers will observe interviewee's body language.

Disadvantages:

• It is time-consuming and costly.

• The outcome depends on communication skills of the interviewer.

• Success can also be dependent on how willingly the interviewee is participating in this process.

step: 3 of 4

Observing the business in operation:

• It is one of the most efficient techniques of gathering facts.

• By this technique, it is possible to participate in or watch activities performed by the person to understand the system.

• This technique is helpful when the complexity of the system requires clear explanation by the end users.

Advantages:

• The validity of facts and data will be checked

• The observers can observe the actual operations being d incompletely incompletely one.

• Observer can obtain the physical environment of the task.

• It is relatively inexpensive

• Observer can do work measurements.

Disadvantages:

• When people know that they are being observed, they people might knowingly or unknowingly do the tasks differently.

• Some tasks may not always be performed in the same way in as being observed.

• It may be impractical

step: 4 of 4

Research:

• The research fact-finding technique is to research the application and problem.

• The sources of information are internet, computer trade journals and reference books.

• These sources provide information regarding solving similar problems and to know whether the softwares are available or not to solve the problem.

Advantages:

• It will save time if the solution is already available.

• Researchers can gain knowledge about how the similar problems are solved.

• This technique will keep the researcher upto date with the current developments.

Disadvantages:

• It is time-consuming.

• Access to appropriate source of information is required.

• It does not help in solving problem because problem is not documented elsewhere

Questionnaires:

• Surveys can be conducted through questionnaires fact-finding technique.

• It can be used to gather information from large number of people.

Advantages:

• People are allowed to submit their filled questionnaires at their convenience

• It is inexpensive.

• People can openly respond to the questionnaires as the responses are kept confidential

• Responses can be tabulated and analyzed quickly

Disadvantages:

• There is a possibility for low number of respondents.

• there is a possibility that incomplete questionnaires are returned.

• No opportunity to adopt questions which have been misinterpreted.

• Body language of the respondents are not observed and analysed

• Preparing questionnaires can be time consuming