Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
True/False Questions
1. Preliminary investigation includes those techniques used by systems analysts to
identify or extract system problems and solution requirements from the user
community.
Answer: False Page: 208 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Requirements discovery includes those techniques used by systems analysts
to identify or extract system problems and solution requirements from the user
community.
2. System requirements that specify what the information system must do are referred to
as functional requirements.
Answer: True Page: 208 LOD: Easy
3. Another name for a system requirement is business requirement.
Answer: True Page: 208 LOD: Easy
4. Failure to correctly identify system requirements can lead to higher maintenance costs
over the life of the system..
Answer: True Page: 208 LOD: Medium
5. System requirements that specify a property or quality the system must have are
frequently referred to as functional requirements.
Answer: False Page: 208 LOD: Medium
Rationale: System requirements that specify a property or quality the system must
have are frequently referred to as nonfunctional requirements.
6. The purpose of requirements discovery and management is to correctly identify the
knowledge, process and communication requirements for the users of the new system.
Answer: True Page: 208 LOD: Easy
7. Based on Boehm's findings, an erroneous requirement that goes undetected and
unfixed until the operations phase may cost 1,000 times more than it would have cost
if it were detected and fixed in the requirements phase.
Answer: True Page: 210 LOD: Medium
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
97
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
8. Requirements discovery consists of the following activities: (1) problem discovery and
analysis; (2) requirements discovery; (3) documenting and analyzing requirements;
and (4) requirements management.
Answer: True Page: 210 LOD: Easy
9. The Ishikawa diagram is often referred to as a cause-and-effect diagram or a fishbone
diagram.
Answer: True Page: 211 LOD: Easy
10. Fact-finding is the formal process of using research, interviews, questionnaires,
sampling and other techniques to collect information about problems, requirements,
and preferences.
Answer: True Page: 212 LOD: Easy
11. Another name for fact-finding is information gathering.
Answer: True Page: 212 LOD: Easy
12. Another name for fact-finding is a non-functional requirement.
Answer: False Page: 212 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Another name for fact-finding is information gathering.
13. A requirements definition document should consist of the following: (1) functions and
services that the system should provide; (2) nonfunctional requirements including the
system's features, characteristics, and attributes; (3) constraints that restrict the
development of the system or under which the system must operate; and (4)
information about other systems the system must operate.
Answer: True Page: 214 LOD: Easy
14. Requirements validation checks the requirements definition document for accuracy,
completeness, consistency, and conformance to standards.
Answer: True Page: 214 LOD: Medium
98
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
15. Requirements validation checks the systems proposal for the inclusion of data flow
diagrams and entity relationship diagrams for all of the requirements.
Answer: False Page: 214 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Requirements validation checks the requirements definition document for
accuracy, completeness, consistency, and conformance to standards.
16. Requirements management is the process of managing change to the requirements.
Answer: True Page: 215 LOD: Easy
17. Sampling is the activity of sampling the requirements from the requirements definition
to insure requirements validation.
Answer: False Page: 216 LOD: Easy
Rationale: Sampling is the process of collecting a representative sample of documents,
forms and records.
18. Randomization is a sampling technique characterized as having no predetermined
pattern or plan for selecting sample data.
Answer: True Page: 217 LOD: Easy
19. Randomization is a sampling technique that attempts to reduce the variance of the
estimates by spreading out the sampling and by avoiding very high or low estimates.
Answer: False Page: 217 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Stratification is a sampling technique that attempts to reduce the variance of
the estimates by spreading out the sampling and by avoiding very high or low
estimates. Randomization is a sampling technique characterized as having no
predetermined pattern or plan for selecting sample data.
20. Stratification is a sampling technique characterized as having no predetermined
pattern or plan for selecting sample data.
Answer: False Page: 217 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Randomization is a sampling technique characterized as having no
predetermined pattern or plan for selecting sample data. Stratification is a sampling
technique that attempts to reduce the variance of the estimates by spreading out the
sampling and by avoiding very high or low estimates.
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
99
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
21. Observation is a fact-finding technique wherein the systems analyst either participates
in or watches a person perform activities to learn about the system.
Answer: True Page: 218 LOD: Easy
22. Work sampling is a fact-finding technique that involves a large number of
observations taken at random intervals.
Answer: True Page: 220 LOD: Easy
23. Questionnaires are documents that allow the analyst to collect information and
opinions from respondents.
Answer: True Page: 220 LOD: Easy
24. An advantage of a questionnaire is that it can be answered quickly.
Answer: True Page: 221 LOD: Easy
25. An advantage of a questionnaire is that it provides a relatively inexpensive means for
gathering data from a large number of individuals.
Answer: True Page: 221 LOD: Easy
26. A disadvantage of a questionnaire is its high cost of gathering data from a large
number of individuals.
Answer: False Page: 221 LOD: Medium
Rationale: An advantage of a questionnaire is its high cost of gathering data from a
large number of individuals.
27. A disadvantage of a questionnaire is that responses take a long time to tabulate.
Answer: False Page: 221 LOD: Medium
Rationale: An advantage of a questionnaire is that responses can be tabulated and
analyzed quickly.
28. An advantage of a questionnaire is that responses can be tabulated and analyzed
quickly.
Answer: True Page: 221 LOD: Easy
100
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
29. An advantage of questionnaire is that the number of respondents is generally high.
Answer: False Page: 221 LOD: Medium
Rationale: A disadvantage of a questionnaire is that the number of respondents is often
low
30. An advantage of observation is that it tends to let the analyst observe the normal
volume and difficulty of work.
Answer: False Page: 219 LOD: Medium
Rationale: A disadvantage of observation is that the work being observed may not
involve the level of difficulty or the volume normally experienced.
31. An advantage of questionnaires is their flexibility.
Answer: False Page: 221 LOD: Medium
Rationale: A disadvantage of questionnaires is their inflexibility.
32. A disadvantage of questionnaires is their inflexibility.
Answer: True Page: 221 LOD: Easy
33. A disadvantage of a questionnaire is that the analyst cannot observe and analyze the
body language of the respondent.
Answer: True Page: 221 LOD: Easy
34. A disadvantage of a questionnaire is that there is no immediate opportunity to clarify a
vague or incomplete answer to any question.
Answer: True Page: 221 LOD: Easy
35. An advantage of a questionnaire is that good questionnaires are easy to prepare.
Answer: False Page: 221 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Good questionnaires are hard to prepare.
36. A disadvantage of a questionnaire is that good questionnaires are very difficult to
prepare.
Answer: True Page: 221 LOD: Easy
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
101
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
37. An advantage of observation is that it is relatively inexpensive compared to other factfinding techniques.
Answer: True Page: 219 LOD: Medium
38. Questionnaires allow individuals to maintain their anonymity.
Answer: True Page: 221 LOD: Easy
39. Interviews are a fact-finding technique whereby the systems analysts collect
information from individuals through face-to-face interaction.
Answer: True Page: 222 LOD: Easy
40. The personal interview is generally recognized as the most important and most often
used fact-finding technique.
Answer: True Page: 222 LOD: Medium
41. Interviewing is a costly fact-finding approach.
Answer: True Page: 223 LOD: Medium
42. Interviewing can be used to achieve any or all of the following goals: find facts; verify
facts; clarify facts; generate enthusiasm; get the end-user involved; identify the
requirements; and solicit ideas and opinions.
Answer: True Page: 222 LOD: Easy
43. The purpose of the Ishikawa diagram is to explore the causes and effects of problems.
Answer: True Page: 211 LOD: Easy
44. Typically an Ishikawa diagram is filled out in a brainstorming session.
Answer: True Page: 211 LOD: Medium
45. Interviewing is a very time consuming process.
Answer: True Page: 223 LOD: Easy
102
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
46. An advantage of an interview is that it permits the analyst to adapt or reword questions
for each individual.
Answer: True Page: 223 LOD: Easy
47. A disadvantage of an interview is that the interview guide does not permit the analyst
to adapt or reword questions for each individual.
Answer: False Page: 223 LOD: Easy
Rationale: An advantage of an interview is that it permits the analyst to adapt or
reword questions for each individual.
48. An advantage of an interview is that it gives the analyst the opportunity to observe the
interviewee's non-verbal communication.
Answer: True Page: 223 LOD: Easy
49. An advantage of interviewing is that is less time-consuming than questionnaires, and
therefore less costly as a fact-finding approach.
Answer: False Page: 223 LOD: Easy
Rationale: A disadvantage of interviewing is that is more time-consuming than
questionnaires, and therefore more costly as a fact-finding approach
50. Interviewing is highly dependent on the systems analyst's technical skills.
Answer: False Page: 223 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Interviewing is highly dependent on the systems analyst's human relations
skills.
51. An important interviewing skill is to be able to control the time consumed by the
interview by diplomatically cutting off answers that seem to be leading nowhere.
Answer: False Page: 226 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Interviewers should avoid assuming an answer is finished or leading
nowhere.
52. A disadvantage of interviewing is that it may be impractical due to the location of the
interviewees.
Answer: True Page: 223 LOD: Easy
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
103
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
53. Unstructured interviews are conducted with only a general goal or subject in mind,
and with few, if any, specific questions. The interviewer counts on the interviewee to
provide a framework and direct the conversation.
Answer: True Page: 223 LOD: Easy
54. Unstructured interviews are conducted with a specific set of free-format questions to
ask the interviewee.
Answer: False Page: 223 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Unstructured interviews are conducted with only a general goal or subject
in mind, and with few, if any, specific questions. The interviewer counts on the
interviewee to provide a framework and direct the conversation.
55. In structured interviews, the interviewer has a specific set of questions to ask the
interviewee.
Answer: True Page: 223 LOD: Easy
56. In structured interviews, the interview is structured by the interviewee, not the
interviewer.
Answer: False Page: 223 LOD: Easy
Rationale: In structured interviews, the interview is structured by the interviewer, not
the interviewee.
57. Open-ended questions allow the interviewee to respond in any way that seems
appropriate.
Answer: True Page: 223 LOD: Easy
58. Closed-ended questions restrict answers to either specific choices or short, direct
responses.
Answer: True Page: 223 LOD: Easy
59. The following is an example of an open-ended question: "What do you need the new
system to do?"
Answer: True Page: 223 LOD: Medium
104
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
60. An interview guide is a list of specific questions the interviewer will ask the
interviewee.
Answer: True Page: 224 LOD: Easy
61. To help maintain control of the interview, an interviewer should dress more formally
that the interviewee.
Answer: False Page: 226 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Dress to match the interviewee.
62. An interview question should be long and complex enough to cover all points for
which an interviewer wants answers.
Answer: False Page: 224 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Avoid long or complex questions.
63. To help set the context of a question, it is best to give your own opinion to preface
asking a question of an interviewee.
Answer: False Page: 224 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Personal opinion should not be included as part of the question.
64. The higher the management level of the interviewee, the more time should be
scheduled for the interview.
Answer: False Page: 224 LOD: Medium
Rationale: The higher the management level of the interviewee, the less time should
be scheduled.
65. Interviewers should prepare an interview guide in advance and not skip any of the
planned questions.
Answer: False Page: 226 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Questions can be bypassed if they have been answered earlier or they are
deemed irrelevant based on previous answers.
66. If you cannot interview someone in person, a telephone or e-mail interview will work
just as well.
Answer: False Page: 227 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Only 7 percent of a person's total feelings is communicated verbally.
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
105
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
67. The interviewer should avoid interrupting with a lot of "uh-huh's."
Answer: False Page: 227 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Let the interviewee know you are listening.
68. To establish rapport during an interview, position yourself within 1.5 feet of the
interviewee.
Answer: True Page: 228 LOD: Medium
Rationale: An analyst conducts most interviews in the personal zone (1.5 to 4 feet).
69. During the interview conclusion, you should express appreciation and provide answers
to any questions posed by the interviewee. The conclusion is important for
maintaining rapport and trust with the interviewee.
Answer: True Page: 226 LOD: Easy
70. Body language is the verbal communication that we all communicate clearly and with
awareness.
Answer: False Page: 227 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Body language is the nonverbal communication that we all communicate
and are usually unaware of.
71. Discovery prototyping is the act of building a small-scale, representative or working
model of the users' requirements to discover or verify those requirements.
Answer: True Page: 229 LOD: Easy
72. An advantage of discovery prototyping is that it allows users and developers to
experiment with the software and develop an understanding of how the system might
work.
Answer: True Page: 229 LOD: Easy
73. An advantage of discovery prototyping is that it aids in determining the feasibility and
usefulness of the system before high development costs are incurred.
Answer: True Page: 229 LOD: Easy
106
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
74. An advantage of discovery prototyping is that the prototype can serve as a training
mechanism for users.
Answer: True Page: 229 LOD: Easy
75. An advantage of discovery prototyping is that it may minimize the time spent for factfinding and help define more stable and reliable requirements.
Answer: True Page: 229 LOD: Easy
76. A disadvantage of discovery prototyping is that it may increase the time spent on factfinding.
Answer: False Page: 229 LOD: Medium
Rationale: An advantage of discovery prototyping is that it may decrease the time
spent on fact-finding.
77. An advantage of prototyping is that it tends to lead to realistic expectations for the
system on the part of users.
Answer: True Page: 229 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Users may develop unrealistic expectations based on the performance,
reliability, and features of the prototype.
78. Prototypes are generally developed using the same technologies as the final software.
In fact, they are often just incomplete versions of the finished system
Answer: False Page: 229 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Technologies other than the ones used for the final software are frequently
used.
79. A disadvantage of discovery prototyping is that users may develop unrealistic
expectations based on the performance, reliability and features of the prototype.
Prototypes can only simulate system functionality and are incomplete in nature.
Answer: True Page: 229 LOD: Easy
80. The best prototypes are those that actually grow into the final system.
Answer: False Page: 229 LOD: Medium
Rationale: Prototypes are most likely discarded when the system is finished.
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
107
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
81. The JRP sponsor serves as the champion for the project.
Answer: True Page: 230 LOD: Easy
82. The JRP sponsor serves as the leader for the JRP sessions.
Answer: False Page: 230 LOD: Medium
Rationale: The JRP facilitator serves as the leader for the JRP sessions.
83. A JRP scribe is responsible for keeping records pertaining to everything discussed in
the JRP meeting.
Answer: True Page: 231 LOD: Easy
84. The JRP facilitator is responsible for keeping records pertaining to everything
discussed in the JRP meeting.
Answer: False Page: 231 LOD: Easy
Rationale: A JRP scribe is responsible for keeping records pertaining to everything
discussed in the JRP meeting.
85. JRP sessions generally last three to five hours.
Answer: False Page: 231 LOD: Medium
Rationale: JRP sessions span three to five days or longer.
86. A benefit of JRP is that it actively involves users and management in the development
project.
Answer: True Page: 234 LOD: Easy
87. A disadvantage of JRP is that it actively isolates users and management during the
development project.
Answer: False Page: 234 LOD: Easy
Rationale: A benefit of JRP is that it actively involves users and management in the
development project.
108
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
88. A disadvantage of JRP is that it increases the time required to develop systems. This
occurs because the JRP meetings take longer than traditional interviewing.
Answer: False Page: 234 LOD: Medium
Rationale: An advantage of JRP is that it reduces the time required to develop systems.
This occurs because the JRP meetings are shorter in duration than traditional
interviewing
89. When JRP incorporates prototyping as a means of confirming requirements and
obtaining design approvals, the benefits of prototyping are also realized.
Answer: True Page: 234 LOD: Easy
90. In a fishbone diagram the various problems and opportunities for a systems project are
drawn as bones off the main backbone.
Answer: False Page: 211 LOD: Medium
Rationale: The fish's head is a single problem, and the possible causes of the problem
are drawn as bones.
Multiple Choice Questions
91. The techniques used by systems analysts to identify or extract system problems and
solution requirements is known as:
A) problem analysis
B) requirements discovery
C) system requirement
D) preliminary investigation
E) none of these
Answer: B Page: 208 LOD: Medium
92. System requirements are also called:
A) requirements discovery
B) problem analysis requirements
C) business requirements
D) preliminary requirements
E) none of these
Answer: C Page: 208 LOD: Medium
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
109
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
93. Something that the information system must do or a property it must have is called a:
A) functional requirement
B) nonfunctional requirement
C) system requirement
D) scope
E) none of these
Answer: C Page: 208 LOD: Medium
94. A function or feature that highlights what a system must do is known as:
A) requirements discovery
B) problem requirement
C) functional requirement
D) nonfunctional requirement
E) none of these
Answer: C Page: 208 LOD: Medium
95. Which of the following might happen if system requirements are incorrect?
A) the system may cost more than budgeted
B) users may refuse to use the system
C) the system could have high downtime
D) A and B
E) all of these
Answer: E Page: 208 LOD: Medium
96. An Ishikawa diagram is also referred to as:
A) cause-and-effect diagram
B) data flow diagram
C) fishbone diagram
D) both (a) and (c)
E) entity relationship diagram
Answer: D Page: 211 LOD: Medium
110
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
97. Which of the following is NOT one of the seven common fact-finding techniques?
A) research and site visits
B) prototyping
C) Ishikawa diagrams
D) joint requirements planning
E) none of these
Answer: C Page: 215 LOD: Medium
98. Some of the initial requirements gathered from stakeholders may be:
A) conflicting
B) overlapping
C) infeasible
D) ambiguous
E) all of these
Answer: E Page: 213 LOD: Medium
99. The process of collecting a representative sample of documents, forms and records is
known as:
A) sampling
B) prototyping
C) modeling
D) patterning
E) none of these
Answer: A Page: 216 LOD: Medium
100. A sampling technique that is characterized as having no predetermined pattern or plan
of selecting sample data is known as:
A) observation
B) proxemics
C) randomization
D) stratification
E) none of these
Answer: C Page: 217 LOD: Medium
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
111
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
101. A systematic sampling technique that attempts to reduce the variance of the estimates
by spreading out the sampling or by avoiding very high or low estimates is:
A) observation
B) proxemics
C) randomization
D) stratification
E) none of these
Answer: D Page: 217 LOD: Medium
102. A fact-finding technique wherein the systems analyst either participates in or watches
a person perform activities to learn about the system is:
A) observation
B) proxemics
C) randomization
D) stratification
E) none of these
Answer: A Page: 218 LOD: Easy
103. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of a questionnaire?
A) questionnaires can be answered quickly
B) responses to a questionnaire can be tabulated and analyzed quickly.
C) questionnaires are a relatively inexpensive way to gather data from large numbers
of people
D) the number of respondents is low
E) none of these
Answer: D Page: 221 LOD: Medium
104. Which of the following is an advantage of a questionnaire?:
A) the number of respondents is often high
B) questionnaires tend to be flexible
C) there is an immediate opportunity to clarify a vague or incomplete answer
D) good questionnaires are easy to prepare
E) questionnaires can be answered quickly
Answer: E Page: 221 LOD: Medium
112
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
105. Which kind of questions offer the respondent greater latitude in the answer?
A) fixed-format questionnaires
B) free-format questionnaires
C) multiple choice questions
D) rating questions
E) none of these
Answer: B Page: 221 LOD: Medium
106. Questionnaires that contain questions that require the selection of pre-defined
responses are known as:
A) free-format questionnaires
B) fixed format questionnaires
C) interviews
D) Both (a) and (b)
E) none of these
Answer: B Page: 221 LOD: Medium
107. Which of the following types of questions should you ask on a questionnaire or
interview?
A) loaded questions
B) biased questions
C) leading questions
D) open-ended questions
E) none of these
Answer: D Page: 221 LOD: Medium
108. Which fact-finding technique is generally recognized as the most important and most
often used?
A) questionnaires
B) observation
C) discovery prototyping
D) interviews
E) none of these
Answer: D Page: 252 LOD: Medium
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
113
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
109. Which of the following is something you should do during an interview?
A) tape record the interview
B) talk extensively to explain the system
C) let the interview run as long as it needs to
D) note nonverbal communication
E) avoid eye contact
Answer: D Page: 226-227 LOD: Medium
110. Which of the following is something you should NOT do during an interview?
A) be courteous
B) listen carefully
C) use jargon
D) be patient
E) none of these
Answer: C Page: 226 LOD: Medium
111. In terms of proxemics, interviews should be conducted in which spatial zone?
A) personal zone
B) intimate zone
C) public zone
D) social zone
E) twilight zone
Answer: A Page: 228 LOD: Medium
112. Which of the following is NOT a guideline for successfully conducting a JRP session?
A) do not unreasonably deviate from the agenda
B) ensure that the scribe is able to take notes
C) encourage group conflict
D) allow for ample breaks
E) none of these
Answer: C Page: 233 LOD: Medium
114
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
113. Which of the following is NOT a guideline for successfully conducting a JRP session?
A) encourage group consensus
B) encourage user and management participation
C) for precision use technical jargon
D) apply conflict resolution skills
E) none of these
Answer: C Page: 233 LOD: Medium
114. A technique for generating ideas during group meetings where participants are
encouraged to generate as many ideas as possible in a short time without any analysis
until all ideas have been exhausted is known as:
A) prototyping
B) interviewing
C) scribing
D) brainstorming
E) none of these
Answer: D Page: 233 LOD: Medium
115. Sampling every 100th invoice would be an example of:
A) randomization
B) proxemics
C) JRP
D) stratification
E) observation
Answer: D Page: 217 LOD: Medium
116. The biggest share of a person's feelings is communicated:
A) by tone of voice
B) by facial and body expressions
C) verbally
D) in writing
E) with emoticons
Answer: B Page: 227 LOD: Medium
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
115
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
Fill in the Blank Questions
117. __________________________________ includes those techniques to be used by
systems analysts to identify or extract system problems and solution requirements
from the user community.
Answer: Requirements discovery Page: 208 LOD: Medium
118. A(n) ____________________________________ is a description of the needs and
desires for an information system. A requirement may describe functions, features
(attributes), and constraints.
Answer: system requirement
Page: 208 LOD: Medium
119. _____________________________________ define the services the system is to
provide and prescribe constraints for its operation.
Answer: System requirements
Page: 208 LOD: Medium
120. A(n) _____________________________________ is something the information
system do.
Answer: functional requirement
Page: 208 LOD: Medium
121. A(n) ____________________________________________ specifies a property or
characteristic of a system.
Answer: nonfunctional requirement
Page: 208 LOD: Medium
122. _______________________________ should meet the following criteria: consistent;
complete; feasible; required; accurate; traceable; and verifiable.
Answer: system requirements
Page: 210 LOD: Medium
123. The ________________________________ is often referred to as a cause-and-effect
diagram or a fishbone diagram.
Answer: Ishikawa diagram
116
Page: 211 LOD: Medium
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
124. __________________________________ is the formal process of using research,
interviews, questionnaires, sampling and other techniques to collect information about
problems, requirements, and preferences.
Answer: Fact-finding or information gathering Page: 212 LOD: Medium
125. A(n) ________________________ should consist of the following: (1) functions and
services that the system should provide; (2) nonfunctional requirements including the
system's features, characteristics, and attributes; (3) constraints that restrict the
development of the system or under which the system must operate; and (4)
information about other systems the system must operate.
Answer: requirements document
Page: 214 LOD: Hard
126. _____________________________________ is the process of managing change to
the requirements.
Answer: Requirements management
Page: 214-215 LOD: Medium
127. __________________________________ is the process of collecting a representative
sample of documents, forms and records.
Answer: Sampling Page: 216 LOD: Medium
128. ___________________________________ is a sampling technique that attempts to
reduce the variance of the estimates by spreading out the sampling and by avoiding
very high or low estimates.
Answer: Stratification
Page: 217 LOD: Hard
129. _____________________________________ is a fact-finding technique wherein the
systems analyst either participates in or watches a person perform activities to learn
about the system.
Answer: Observation
Page: 218 LOD: Medium
130. ________________________________________ are special-purpose documents that
allow the analyst to collect information and opinions from respondents.
Answer: Questionnaires
Page: 220 LOD: Medium
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
117
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
131. A(n) __________________________ questionnaire offers the respondent greater
latitude in the answer.
Answer: free-format
Page: 221 LOD: Hard
132. A(n) ____________________________ question allows an interviewee to respond in
any way that seems appropriate.
Answer: open-ended
Page: 223 LOD: Hard
133. _____________________________ is the key to a successful interview.
Answer: preparation
Page: 224 LOD: Hard
134. A(n) _____________________________ is a checklist of specific questions the
interviewer will ask the interviewee.
Answer: interview guide
Page: 224 LOD: Medium
135. A _______________________________ document is a formal document that
communicates the requirements of a proposed system.
Answer: requirements definition
Page: 213 LOD: Medium
136. A(n) ___________________________ (advantage or disadvantage) of a questionnaire
is that the analyst cannot observe and analyze the body language of the respondent.
Answer: disadvantage
Page: 249 LOD: Medium
137. A(n) _________________________ (advantage or disadvantage) of a questionnaire is
that there is no immediate opportunity to clarify a vague or incomplete answer to any
question.
Answer: disadvantage
Page: 249 LOD: Medium
138. ____________________________ are a fact-finding technique whereby the systems
analysts collect information from individuals through face-to-face interaction.
Answer: Interviews
118
Page: 250 LOD: Medium
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
139. A(n) ________________________ (advantage or disadvantage) of an interview is that
it gives the analyst an opportunity to motivate the interviewee to respond freely and
openly to questions.
Answer: advantage Page: 251 LOD: Medium
140. A(n) _________________________ (advantage or disadvantage) of interviews is that
they allow the analyst to probe for more feedback from the interviewee.
Answer: advantage Page: 251 LOD: Medium
141. A(n) ________________________ (advantage or disadvantage) of an interview is that
it gives the analyst the opportunity to observe the interviewee's non-verbal
communication.
Answer: advantage Page: 251 LOD: Medium
142. A(n) ____________________________ (advantage or disadvantage) of interviewing
is that it is time-consuming, and therefore a costly fact-finding approach.
Answer: disadvantage
Page: 251 LOD: Medium
143. A(n) _____________________________ (advantage or disadvantage) of interviewing
is that it may be impractical due to the location of the interviewees.
Answer: disadvantage
Page: 251 LOD: Medium
144. _______________________________ are conducted with only a general goal or
subject in mind, and with few, if any, specific, questions. The interviewer counts on
the interviewee to provide a framework and direct the conversation.
Answer: Unstructured interviews
Page: 251 LOD: Medium
145. In __________________________________, the interviewer has a specific set of
questions to ask the interviewee.
Answer: structured interviews
Page: 251 LOD: Medium
146. _________________________ questions allow the interviewee to respond in any way
that seems appropriate.
Answer: Open-ended
Page: 251 LOD: Medium
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
119
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
147. ___________________________ questions restrict answers to either specific choices
or short, direct responses.
Answer: Closed-ended
Page: 251 LOD: Medium
148. A(n) ______________________ is a list of specific questions the interviewer will ask
the interviewee during an interview.
Answer: interview guide
Page: 252 LOD: Medium
149. _______________________ is the nonverbal communication that we all communicate
and are usually unaware of.
Answer: Body language
Page: 227 LOD: Medium
150. ___________________________ is the relationship between people and the space
around them. It is a factor in communications that can be controlled by the
knowledgeable analyst.
Answer: Proxemics
Page: 228 LOD: Hard
151. The recommended first step in fact-finding is to
________________________________.
Answer: Learn from existing documents
Page: 235 LOD: Hard
152. ____________________________ is a fact-finding technique that suffers from a low
response rate.
Answer: questionnaires
Page: 221 LOD: Medium
153. _________________________ is a fact-finding technique that allows users and
developers to experiment with the software.
Answer: discovery prototyping Page: 229 LOD: Hard
154. _________________ is a fact-finding technique that brings stakeholders together for a
group meeting.
Answer: JRP
120
Page: 229 LOD: Medium
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
155. Discovery prototyping is that it aids in the building of system ________________ and
scenarios to be used last in the system testing process.
Answer: test plans
Page: 229 LOD: Medium
156. ________________________ is a fact-finding technique that allows information to be
gathered relatively inexpensively from a large number of individuals.
Answer: questionnaires
Page: 221 LOD: Medium
157. It is least costly to get requirements right during the ___________________ phase.
Answer: requirements
Page: 210 LOD: Medium
158. ____________________________________ is a fact-finding technique that employs
searching trade journals and the web for information on how other organizations have
solved similar problems.
Answer: research and site visits
Page: 217 LOD: Medium
159. _______________________________ involves a large number of observations taken
at random intervals.
Answer: work sampling
Page: 220 LOD: Medium
160. ____________________________________ is a process whereby highly structured
group meetings are conducted to analyze problems and define requirements. It is a
subset of a more comprehensive technique that encompasses the entire development
process.
Answer: Joint requirements planning (JRP)
Page: 229 LOD: Hard
161. The JRP __________________ serves as the champion for the project.
Answer: sponsor
Page: 230 LOD: Medium
162. The JRP _____________________ serves as the leader for the JRP sessions.
Answer: facilitator
Page: 230 LOD: Medium
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition
121
Chapter 6 Fact-Finding Techniques for Requirements Discovery
163. A JRP ___________________ is responsible for keeping records pertaining to
everything discussed in the JRP meeting.
Answer: scribe Page: 231 LOD: Medium
164. _________________________ is a technique for generating ideas during group
meetings.
Answer: Brainstorming Page: 233 LOD: Medium
165. _______________________ requirements are ones that are defined so that they can be
demonstrated during testing.
Answer: verifiable Page: 210 LOD: Hard
166. _______________________ requirements are ones that describe all possible system
inputs and responses.
Answer: complete
Page: 210 LOD: Hard
167. _______________________ requirements are ones that are stated correctly.
Answer: accurate
122
Page: 210 LOD: Hard
Whitten/Bentley, Systems Analysis & Design Methods, Seventh Edition