Requirements analysis encompasses all of the tasks that go into the investigation, scoping and definition of a new or altered system. The first activity in analysis phase is to do the preliminary investigation. During the preliminary investigation data collecting is a very important and for this we can use the fact finding techniques.
The following fact finding techniques can be used for collecting the data:
- Interviews – Analysts can use interviews to collect information about the current system form the potential users. Here the analysts discover the areas of misunderstanding, unrealistic exception and descriptions of activities and problems along with resistance to the new proposed system. Interviews are time consuming.
- Questionnaires – Here the analysts can collect data from large groups. Questionnaires could be Open-ended or Close questionnaires. Open-ended questionnaires are used to learn feelings, opinions, general experiences on process detail or problem. In it, questions are answered in their own words. Where as in closed questionnaires a set of prescribed answers are used and specific response have to be selected. This is a costly affair as the questions should be printed out.
- Record inspections or reviews – Basic records like the reports, bills, policy manuals, regulations, standard operation procedures etc can be used for better understanding the system.
- Observation – This is a skill which the analysts have to develop. The analysts have to identify the right information and choose the right person and look at the right place to achieve his objective. He should have a clear vision of how each departments work and work flow between them and for this he should be a good observer.
Requirements analysis is an important part of the system design process, whereby requirements engineers and business analysts, along with systems engineers or software developers, identify the needs or requirements of a client. Once the client’s requirements have been identified and facts collected, the system designers are then in a position to design a solution.
