Database Reference
In-Depth Information
This constitutes the list of characteristics for the subject under discussion. These character-
istics will eventually become fields in the database.
Note
I refer to this entire procedure as the
Characteristic-Identification Technique
throughout the remainder of the topic.
Verify that the nouns you've marked with a single underline are genuine characteristics by
reviewing the way they're used in the response. For example, “name” is a characteristic
suggested by a noun in the first sentence, and you can assume that it describes some aspect
of the subject “client” by the way the noun is used in the sentence. “Shipping address” is
another characteristic suggested by a noun in the last sentence, and you can assume that
this noun also represents some aspect of the subject “client” by the way the noun is used in
the sentence.
After you've finished discussing a particular subject, move on to the next subject on your
subjects list and begin the same pattern of questioning. Start with open-ended questions,
identify the subjects suggested in the responses, ask more specific questions as the discus-
sion progresses, and identify as many of the subject's characteristics as possible. Continue
this process in a methodical manner until you've discussed every subject on your list.
You should learn the Subject-Identification Technique and the Characteristic-Identification
Technique as thoroughly as possible because you'll use them during your interviews with
users and management and as you identify fields and tables for the initial database struc-
ture. Note that you won't have to incorporate the single and double underlines forever;
you'lleventuallyexecutethesetechniquesinyourmindasyougainexperienceandasthey
become more instinctive and intuitive.
Before You Begin the Interview Process . . .
You can use the techniques you've just learned in this section for both user interviews and
management interviews. The only differences between the two sets of interviews lie in the
subject matter and the content of the questions.
