Data Collection Techniques
Data gathering is the interaction between the software engineer (a business analyst) and the customers (including users). There are many techniques for gathering data, including interviews, meetings, observations, questionnaires, and reviewing software, internal documents, and external documents. Data gathering is an activity where ethical and professional conduct issues typically arise, particularly regarding privacy, security, responsibility, accountability, and communication.
Software Review
Frequently, applications are replacing older software that supports the work of user departments. Study of the existing software provides you with information about the current work procedures and the extent to which they are constrained by the software design. This, in turn, gives you information about questions to raise with the users, for instance, how much do they want work constrained by the application? If they could remove the constraints, how would they do the work?
The weaknesses of getting information from software review are that documentation might not be accurate or current, code might not be readable, and the time might be wasted if the application is being discarded.
To summarize, the methods of collecting information relating to applications include interviews, group meetings, observation, questionnaires, temporary job assignment, document review, or software review. For obtaining information relating to requirements for applications, interviews and JAD meetings are the most common.