Information Gathering Techniques

(for Business and Systems Analysts)

Course Category: Business Analysis
Course Duration: 2 Days
Hours: 14 PDUs (Professional Development Units) 14 PD Hours / CDUs (Professional Development Hours / Capability Development Units)

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Malaysia

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Duration: 14 Hours
Timing: 9 AM to 5 PM Malaysia Time

Philippines

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Duration: 14 Hours
Timing: 9 AM to 5 PM Philippine Time

Singapore

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Duration: 14 Hours
Timing: 9 AM to 5 PM Singapore Time

Australia

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Duration: 14 Hours
Timing: 11 AM to 7 PM AEST

All Other Locations

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Duration: 14 Hours
Timing: 9 AM to 5 PM Philippines/Singapore/Hong Kong Time

Course Overview

Most technical staff understands that gathering information from users, clients and stakeholders is an essential part of their job. With little (if any) preparation for this crucial aspect of their jobs, many staff attempts to muddle their way through a series of poorly planned interviews or workshops.

At best, this is viewed as unprofessional and a source of frustration by their clients. In the worst case, poorly organised interviews and workshops can undermine the credibility of a project team.

This two-day course is a much-needed solution to this problem. The course equips participants with a toolkit of interviewing and workshop facilitation techniques. These are tempered with many hard won tips and tricks gleaned from years of practical experience.

The course relies on a minimum of theory, emphasising group activities and role-playing as the appropriate way to learn.

At the end of the course, participants will find that their skills have improved and they are able to present a more confident and professional image during interviews and workshops.

Course Features

  • Provides a framework for planning and conducting workshops and interviews
  • Extensive use of role-plays and simulations
  • Includes “take away” interview and workshop planners

Participant Benefits

  • Develops interviewing and facilitation skills
  • Builds confidence conducting interviews and facilitating workshops
  • Develops interpersonal skills.

Who Should Attend

  • Business Analysts, Business Systems Analysts, Systems Analysts, Functional Analysts
  • Software Engineers, Developers, Requirements Engineers, Requirements Analysts
  • Systems Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Control Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Human Factors Specialists
  • Process Engineers, Software Engineering Process Group (SEPG) Staff, Methodologists, Process Improvement Staff
  • Test Engineers, Testers, Quality Assurance Staff
  • Users, User Representatives, Stakeholders, Project managers, Program Managers

Course Agenda

Introduction

An Overview of Information Gathering Techniques

  • The Layered Systems Model and Information Gathering
    • Objective
    • Structure – logistics
    • Structure – people
    • Relationships
    • Interactions
    • Personalities
    • Mood
  • Techniques For Gathering Information ◦Interviewing
    • Workshops (JAD)
    • Prototyping
    • Questionnaires
    • Storyboarding
    • Role play
    • Data sampling
    • Direct observation
  • The Information Gathering Life Cycle
    • Planning
    • Conducting
    • Analysing information

Providing feedback

Interviewing

  • Strengths and Weaknesses
  • Stages
    • Preparation
    • Opening stage
    • Productive stage
    • Closing stage
    • Providing feedback
  • Types of Question
    • Open Questions
    • Closed Questions
    • Mirror Questions
    • Hypothetical Questions
    • Probing Questions
    • Leading Questions
  • Listening Skills
    • Hear
    • Empathise
    • Analyse
    • Respond
  • Interview Planner
    • Interview Log

Prototyping

  • Strengths and weaknesses
  • High vs. low fidelity prototypes
  • The prototyping life cycle

Course Agenda

Workshops

  • Strengths and Weaknesses
  • When?
  • Where?
  • Who?
  • Sponsor
    • Facilitator
    • Scribe
    • Participants
    • Experts/observers
  • Workshop Planner
  • Two aspects of groups
    • The purpose of the group
      • Goals and outcomes
      • Number of sessions
      • Agenda
      • Time
      • Place
  • Group dynamics
    • The way in which people relate and communicate
    • How group dynamics can block the achievement of group purpose
  • Anatomy of a workshop
  • The importance of a “warm up”
  • Roles of the facilitator
  • Facilitation skills
  • Running the workshop
  • Ground rules for workshops
  • Closing the workshop

Questionnaires

  • Strengths and weaknesses
  • Designing and administering a questionnaire

Practical Exercises

  • In addition to the topics listed above, the course provides a generous time allowance for extensive role-plays and simulations.

Review and Conclusion

Course Category: Business Analysis
Course Duration: 2 Days
Hours: 14 PDUs (Professional Development Units) 14 PD Hours / CDUs (Professional Development Hours / Capability Development Units)