9. Investigation and Analysis: investigation methods
In order to find the answers to the points on made on the previous page the system analyst will do some or all of the following:
Face-to-face Interviews |
The analyst will interview selected staff who use the current system in order to get a detailed overview of how things work. They will want to know what the main problems are and whether users have any suggestions on how to improve the way things work. |
Observation |
The analyst will observe users actually using the system. They will probably follow a complete process from start to finish and note down every interaction that happens |
Questionnaires |
Questionnaires enable the analyst to obtain the views of a large number of staff/ users. Questionnaires are also easier to analyse than face-to-face interviews but the trade-off is that they don't give as much detail.
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Examination of business documents |
Most organisations have business documents and written processes/ procedures relating to the current IT system. These documents detail how the system works and the processes which users should follow. The analyst will examine these documents in detail. |
Paper trail |
Following information from the point it enters the system and observing what outputs are created at each point in the system. |
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Click on this link: Obtaining information