Session 05:

Requirement Elicitation Techniques

R2S Academy – Internal Use – Author: TUAN NGO

Table of Content
Objectives

1 Elicitation Techniques

2 Git Usage Demo

3 Open Discussion

R2S Academy – Internal Use – Author: TUAN NGO

Elicitation Techniques
 Elicitation Techniques
Review
What is requirement elicitation?

• Obtaining information from stakeholders

• Can be done by communicating with stakeholders directly or by doing some research, experiments

Tasks:

1. Prepare for Elicitation: understand scope; select the right techniques; plan for appropriate resources

2. Conduct Elicitation: explore and identify information related to change

3. Confirm Elicitation Result: the information gathered in the elicitation session is checked for accuracy
 Elicitation Techniques
Common Used Techniques
1. Stakeholder Analysis

2. Brainstorming

3. Interview

4. Document Analysis / Review

5. Focus Group

6. Mind mapping

7. Observation

8. Prototyping

9. Joint Application Development (JAD) / Workshop

10. Survey / Questionnaire

 Elicitation Techniques

Stakeholder Analysis
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Analysis
ü Step 1: Determine who your stakeholders are

ü Step 2: Grouping them according to their levels

of participation, interest, and influence in the
project

ü Step 3: Determining how best to involve and

communicate each of these stakeholder groups
throughout
 Elicitation Techniques

Brainstorming
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link]
Use cases

ü Used to generate new ideas and find a solution for a

specific issue

ü Focusing on a topic or problem and then coming up

with many possible solutions to it

ü Members included: domain experts, subject matter

experts

How to organize?

ü This session is generally conducted around the table

discussion

ü All participants should be given an equal amount of

time to express their ideas.
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link]
Basic rules

ü The time limit for the session should be predefined

ü Identify the participants in advance (6-8 members)

ü The agenda should be clear enough for all the participants

ü Clear expectations should be set with the participants

ü Once you get all the information, combine the ideas, and
remove the duplicate ideas

ü Once the final list is ready, distribute it among other parties

 Elicitation Techniques
[Link]
Benefits

ü Creative thinking is the result of the brainstorming session

ü Plenty of ideas in a short time

ü Promotes equal participation

Drawbacks

ü Participants can be involved in debating ideas

ü There can be multiple duplicate ideas

 Elicitation Techniques

Interview
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link]
Interview

ü Most common technique used for requirement elicitation

ü Building strong relationships between business analysts and

stakeholders

ü The interviewer directs the question to stakeholders to obtain

information

Types

ü Structured interview: If the interviewer has a predefined set

of questions

ü Unstructured interview: If the interviewer is not having any

particular format or any specific question
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link]
Basic rules

ü The overall purpose of performing the interviews should be clear

ü Identify the interviewees in advance

ü Interview goals should be communicated to the interviewee

ü Interview questions should be prepared before the interview

ü The location of the interview should be predefined

ü The time limit should be described

ü The interviewer should organize the information and confirm the

results with the interviewees ASAP after the interview
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link]
Benefits

ü Simple, direct technique that can be used in variety of

situations

ü The immediate follow-up to ensure the interviewer’s

understanding

ü Quick response

ü Build relationships with the stakeholder

Drawbacks

ü Time is required to plan and conduct interviews

ü Commitment is required from all the participants

ü Sometimes training is required to conduct effective interviews

 Elicitation Techniques

Document Analysis / Review

 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Analysis / Review
Use cases

ü Review the available materials that describe the business

ü Helpful to validate the implementation of current solutions

ü Helpful in understanding the business need

ü Gathering information before scheduling interviews

3 stages:

ü Prepare stage: identify the materials which are suitable and

relevant

ü Review stage: study the materials, taking notes of relevant

information and listing follow up-questions

ü Wrap up stage: reviewing notes with stakeholders, organizing

requirements and seeking answers to follow-up questions
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Analysis / Review
Benefits

ü Existing documents can be used to compare current & future processes

ü Existing documents can be used as a base for future analysis

Drawbacks

ü Existing documents might not be updated / completely outdated

ü Resources worked on the existing documents might not be available to

provide information

ü This process is time-consuming

 Elicitation Techniques

Focus Group
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Group
Focus Group (Nhóm tập trung)

ü Get information about a product, service from a group

ü Good for market research

ü Group members are often free to talk and interact with each
other

ü Researchers/evaluators should select members of the focus

group carefully in order to obtain useful information

ü A focus group typically consists of 6 to 12 members. If you

want more participants then create more than one focus
group
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Group
Benefits

ü You can get information in a single session rather than

conducting one to one interview

ü One can learn from other’s experiences

Drawbacks

ü It might be difficult to gather the group on the same date and

time

ü If you are doing this using the online method then the
participant’s interaction will be limited

ü A Skilled Moderator is required to manage focus group

discussions
 Elicitation Techniques

Mind Mapping
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Mapping
Mind Mapping (Bản đồ tư duy)

ü A mind map is a diagram used to visually organize information

ü Explore relationships between the various facets of a problem

ü Think through & generate ideas on complex problems

Mind Mapping is perfect for:

ü Brainstorming and visualizing concepts

ü Presenting and communicating ideas

ü Running meetings more effectively

ü Outlining reports and documents

ü Simplifying task and project management

 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Mapping
Mind Mapping – Example 1: Vacation
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Mapping
Mind Mapping – Example 2: My Weekly Plan
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Mapping
Benefits

ü Good way to mix multiple list types

ü Good way to keep track of what needs to be done

ü Good way to visualize complex tasks

ü Good way to take quick notes during a meeting

Drawbacks

ü Easy to over complicate

ü Can be messy on paper

ü Difficult to elaborate on tasks

 Elicitation Techniques

Observation
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link]
Use cases

ü The objective is to improve a process

ü Stakeholders find it hard to explain what they do or what their

requirements are

ü Processes are highly repeatable e.g. manufacturing

Types:

ü Active observation: ask questions and try to attempt the work

that other persons are doing

ü Passive observation: silent observation i.e. you sit with others

and just observe how they are doing their work without
interpreting them
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link]
Benefits

ü The observer will get a practical insight into the work

ü Improvement areas can be easily identified

Drawbacks

ü Participants might get disturbed.

ü Participants might change their way of working during

observation and the observer might not get a clear picture

ü Knowledge-based activities cannot be observed

 Elicitation Techniques

Prototyping
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link]
Use Cases & How

ü Used to identify missing or unspecified requirements

ü Frequent demos are given to the client by creating the

prototypes so that client can get an idea of how the
product will look like.

ü Prototypes can be used to create a mock-up of sites, and

describe the process using diagrams

Tools:

ü Figma ([Link]

ü Balsamiq ([Link]

ü Axure ([Link]
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link]
Benefits

ü Gives a visual representation of the product

ü Stakeholders can provide feedback early

Drawbacks:

ü If the system or process is highly complex, the

prototyping process may become time-consuming

ü Stakeholders may focus on the design specifications of

the solution rather than the requirements that any
solution must address
 Elicitation Techniques

Joint Application Development

(JAD)
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Application Development (JAD)
JAD (Thiết kế kết nối ứng dụng)

ü Structured meetings involving end-users

ü This is used to define, clarify, and complete requirements

ü Ensure information is gathered from all affected parties

Types:

ü Formal Workshops

ü Business Process Improvement Workshops

 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Application Development (JAD)

4 Phases 6 roles in JAD session

ü Define Objectives ü Executive Sponsor: makes decisions about the project

ü Session preparation ü Project Lead/ Manager: provide information about project (scope, time, resources)

ü Session conduct ü User: experts in there business areas

ü Documentation ü IT Representative: provide technical information

ü Facilitator (người hướng dẫn)

û prepare a draft of requirement and organize the JAD session

û Controls the meeting following agenda

û Clarify issues – no contribute content to the meeting

û Create final version of requirement documentation

ü Scribe
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] Application Development (JAD)
Benefits

ü Documentation is completed within hours and is provided quickly back to

participants for review

ü You can get the confirmation on requirements

ü Successfully gathered requirements from a large group in a short period

ü JAD sessions help bring experts together, giving them a chance to share their
views, understand views of others, and develop the sense of project
ownership

Drawbacks

ü Stakeholder’s availability might ruin the session

ü Wrong problem can be addressed, wrong people can be invited to participate

ü A workshop motive cannot be achieved if there are too many participants

 Elicitation Techniques

Survey / Questionnaire
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] / Questionnaire
Use cases

ü A set of questions is given to stakeholders to quantify their

thoughts.

ü After collecting the responses from stakeholders, data is

analyzed to identify the area of interest of stakeholders.

ü Questions should be based on high priority risks; direct

and unambiguous. Once the survey is ready, notify the
participants and remind them to participate.

Types of questions:

ü Open-Ended

ü Close Ended
 Elicitation Techniques
[Link] / Questionnaire
Benefits

ü Easy to get data from a large audience

ü Less time is required for the participants to respond

ü You can get more accurate information as compared to

interviews

Drawback:

ü All the Stakeholders might not participate in the surveys

ü Questions may not be clear to all the participants

ü Open-ended questions require more analysis

ü Follow up surveys might be required based on the responses

provided by participants
 Elicitation Techniques
Review
Questions: