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Chapter 6
Fact-finding
Transparencies
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Chapter 6 - Objectives
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When fact-finding techniques are used
in the database system development
lifecycle.
The types of facts collected throughout
the database system development
lifecycle.
The types of documentation produced
throughout the database system
development©lifecycle.
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Chapter 6 - Objectives
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The most commonly used fact-finding
techniques.
How to use each fact-finding technique
and the advantages and disadvantages
of each.
About a video rental company called
StayHome.
How to use fact-finding techniques in
the early stages of the database system
development©lifecycle.
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Fact-finding
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The formal process of using
techniques such as interviews and
questionnaires to collect facts about
systems, requirements, and
preferences.
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When are fact-finding
techniques used?
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Many occasions for fact-finding during
the database system development
lifecycle.
Particularly crucial to the early stages
of the lifecycle, including the
database planning, system definition,
and requirements collection and
analysis stages.
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What facts are collected?
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Fact-finding techniques
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A database developer normally uses
several fact-finding techniques during
a single database project, including:
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Examining documentation
Interviewing
Observing the business in operation
Research
Questionnaires
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Examining documentation
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Examining documents, forms,
reports, and files associated with the
current system, is a good way to
quickly gain some understanding of
the system.
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Examples of documentation
to examine
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Interviewing
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Interviewing is the most commonly
used, and normally most useful, factfinding technique.
Objectives include:
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finding out and/or checking facts
generating user interest and/or feelings
of involvement,
identifying requirements and/or
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gathering ideas
and
opinions.
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Advantages / disadvantages
of interviewing
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Interviewing
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There are two types of interviews:
unstructured and structured.
Unstructured interviews are conducted
with only a general objective in mind
and with few, if any, specific questions.
In structured interviews, the
interviewer has a specific set of
questions to ask the interviewee.
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Interviewing
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There are two types of questions:
open-ended and closed.
Open-ended questions allow the
interviewee to respond in any way
that seems appropriate.
Closed-ended questions restrict
answers to either specific choices or
short, direct responses.
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Observing the business in
operation
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One of the most effective
techniques.
Can either participate in, or watch a
person perform activities to learn
about the system.
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Advantages / disadvantages
of observation
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Research
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Useful to research the application and
problem.
Computer trade journals, reference
books, and the Internet are good
sources of information.
May find how others have solved similar
problems, plus you can learn whether
or not software packages exist to solve
your problem.
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Advantages / disadvantages
of research
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Questionnaires
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Can conduct surveys through
questionnaires.
Questionnaires are special-purpose
documents that allow you to gather
facts from a large number of people
while maintaining some control over
their responses.
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Advantages / disadvantages
of questionnaires
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Questionnaires
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There are two formats for
questionnaires: free-format and fixedformat.
Free-format questionnaires offer the
respondent greater freedom in
providing answers.
Fixed-format questionnaires contain
questions that require specific
responses from
individuals.
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The StayHome case study
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This case study describes a company
called StayHome, which rents out
videos to its members. The first
branch of StayHome was established
in 1982 in Seattle but the company
has now grown and has many
branches throughout the United
States.
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StayHome staff registration
form
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Page of report listing
members of staff
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Page of report listing videos
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StayHome member
registration form
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Page of report listing
members
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StayHome video rental form
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StayHome case study –
database planning
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Define mission statement for the
database project.
Defines the major aims of the
database system.
Clarifies purpose of database and
provides clearer path towards the
efficient and effective creation of the
required database system.
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StayHome case study –
database planning
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Define mission objectives.
Each mission objective identifies a
particular task that the database
must support.
Additional information specifies, in
general terms, the work to be done,
the resources with which to do it,
and the money to pay for it all.
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Mission statement for
StayHome database system
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Mission objectives for
StayHome database system
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StayHome case study –
system definition
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Define scope and boundary of
database system and its major user
views.
A user view represents requirements
to be supported by a database system
as defined by a particular job role
(such as Manager or Assistant) or
business application area (such as
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video rentals© Pearson
or stock
control).
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Boundary for the StayHome
database system
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User views for StayHome
database system
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StayHome case study – requirements
collection and analysis
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Gather more details on user views to
create users’ requirements
specification, which describes data
to be held in database and how data
is to be used.
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StayHome case study – requirements
collection and analysis
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Collect general requirements for the
system to create - systems
specification - describes features to
be included in new database system
such as networking, shared access,
performance, and security
requirements.
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StayHome case study – requirements
collection and analysis
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Decide how to manage project where
database system has more than one
user view.
There are three approaches to dealing
with multiple user views, namely:
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centralized approach
view integration approach
combination of both approaches
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StayHome user views and
data
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