Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Review of Information
Gathering Techniques
This appendix provides a brief review of information gathering techniques. You would
normally learn these techniques in a course in software engineering or systems analysis.
Mastery of the techniques discussed will enable you to readily identify information
entities, as you model and design a database system. Note, this appendix is not meant
to replace a full course (and text) in software engineering or systems analysis. It should
therefore be regarded as an overview, not a final authority on the subject matter.
In order to accurately and comprehensively specify the system, the software engineer
gathers and analyzes information via various methodologies. This Chapter discusses
these methodologies as outlined below:
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Rationale for Information Gathering
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Interviews
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Questionnaires and Surveys
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Sampling and Experimenting
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Observation and Document Review
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Prototyping
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Brainstorming and Mathematical Proof
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Object Identification
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Summary and Concluding Remarks
A3.1 Rationale for Information Gathering
What kind of information is the software engineer looking for? The answer is simple,
but profound: You are looking for information that will help to accurately and
comprehensively define the requirements of the software to be constructed. The process
