Chapter six - Understand the client's situation

Data collection methods are an important part of this chapter. The following are some basic data gathering methods presented in the textbook.

Review of existing documentation (Infrastructure, Data, Applications, Process, and Business)

Observation (“You can observe a lot by watching” Yogi Berra)

Inventory (Schedule, communication plan, database to collect the information, a collection for, or program, inventory strategy, updated mechanism)

Surveys (Are useful in situations in which: A knowledge holder can respond, knowledge holder are scattered, the time to perform an inventory or interviews is not available, a wide statistical overview is required, opinions and comments are invited)

Facilitated work sessions (It is the ideal forum for exploring the reality behind the organization chart and the procedural manuals. Before they were only meetings where unproductive behaviors showed: poor or late attendance, lack of clear goals, lack of consensus, lack of direction, dominance of strong attendees or of managers, interruptions, hidden agendas, lack of clear resulting items, undocumented results)

Some hints on meeting preparedness: Do your homework, prepare your team, provide pre-reading, adhere to a time contract, set reasonable goals, prepare the meeting space, bring in a subject matter expert, be a gracious host.

Interviews (The most intrusive and intimate encounters of all. They should be used to obtain final clarification from key knowledge holders or final decisions from executives or sponsors. Interview preparation should include the following steps: make a roster and a schedule, assign interviewers, be clear, be prepared, use good meeting etiquette)