Investigation Methods

Investigation Methods

1. Questionnaires

   • Advantages: -Questionnaires are appropriate for large groups of users, or customers -easy to compare the results -questions are planned in advance -Questionnaires can also be useful if the analyst has difficulty getting appointment times with users. -Honest answers are also more likely
   • Disadvantages-Questionnaires are inappropriate for one user -restricted to answering just those questions -users may not have the time to complete the questionnaire -Questionnaires can appear to be impersonal
   • Definition:Questionnaires are useful for gathering information from lots of user, by getting them to answer written questions

2. Interviews and Meetings

   • Advantages: -More detailed information -analyst can ask the users to elaborate upon their answers -Opinions can be expressed informally -Additional questions can be asked -Body language can be read
   • Disadvantages- Interviews are time consuming -Interviews are not appropriate for lots of users because of the amount of time it would take -Interviews do not provide statistical data -difficult to arrange a mutually convenient time -Lack of anonymity
   • Definition: Asking questions to a small group of people, like management, End-users and Customers

3. Observation

   • Disadvantages:-make them less efficient as users may feel intimidated if they are being watched -users may do things ‘properly’ because they feel they are being monitored -only a ‘snapshot’ of the time that the analyst observes is gathered -it takes up a lot of the analyst’s time to watch users at work
   • Advantages:-the analyst can see for themselves how tasks are performed -can share the experience of the users, including any frustrations -allows the analyst to identify what data is being used verbally and visually -inefficiencies in tasks can be identified -the analyst can ask the users questions as they do their work
   • Definition:This is about watching people in their normal environment and seeing how they carry out everyday tasks

4. Documentation Analysis

   • Disadvantages:- only shows data that is used ‘formally’ -will not show all the data that is used within an organisation -an incorrect picture of the current system can be imagined as some people in the company may not use the documents themselves, it is more for purchases and outgoings for e.g
   • Advantages:-lots of data that is used within an organisation can be quickly identified -data flows within an organisation can be established
   • Definition:This is all about examining documents that are used by the organisation