Answer:
Fact-Finding
Fact finding is defined as the process of collecting information about the proposed system, its requirements and the preferences by interviews, documentation, review and research and sampling.
Fact finding can also be called as data collection and information gathering. Fact finding is generally performed during system planning and system analysis phase because during these phases, system analyst collect data about problems, scope and opportunities etc.
Following are the techniques that are used for the fact-finding which are as follows:
• Interviews
• Observation of the working environment
• Research
• Sampling of documentation
• Questionnaires
• RAD( Rapid Application Development)
• JAD( Joint Application Development)
Five questions are used in fact-finding. These questions are what, when, who, where and how.
1.
Who: Who will perform procedures in the system
, Are the activities are performed by correct people
, Can these tasks are performed more efficiently by other people.
2.
What: What is to be done by new system, What procedures should be followed by and why these processes are necessary.
3.
Where: Where operations should be performed
, where these operations could be performed
, Can these operations be performed more efficiently elsewhere.
4.
When: When a procedure should be performed
, is this best time for performing these procedures
, why these procedures are performed at this time.
5.
How: How a procedure is performed
, Can this procedure is performed more effectively and less expensively.
,
Additional Question related to fact finding
Fact finding include some more question other than what, why, where, how and when. Some additional questions are as follows:
• Which business function should be supported by the current system
• What are the business requirements and strategic objectives should the new system support
• What will be the total cost of ownership and the benefits of the proposed system
• Which type of information do the managers and the users need from the new system
• Which risks are acceptable
• Which transaction can be performed using the proposed system
• What budget and timetable will affect the system development
• What security risks can exist in the new system
• Which procedures could be rejected by system developers