Elicitation is unarguably one of the most important activities by a business analyst. It describes the tasks performed by a business analyst to obtain information from all required stakeholders. however, It includes Requirements Elicitation Techniques to involve extracting or drawing forth information from stakeholders or other sources, primarily on business needs and requirements. Business analysts perform elicitation activities through direct communication with stakeholders. To carry out research or experimentation or they may simply hands over the required information.
Elicitation can be planned, unplanned, or both. Planned elicitation is structured and organized in nature whereas unplanned elicitation happens without any prior notice. Information gathered through unplanned elicitation needs to be further analyzed and authenticated during planned elicitation. It would not be correct to perceive elicitation as a one-time activity. Analysis carried out through elicitation may trigger additional elicitation for details to fill in gaps or substantiate understanding.
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Interviews
An interview is an organized approach to elicit information from one or more stakeholders. It is by interacting with them, asking pertinent questions, and documenting the responses. It assists in building relationships with stakeholders that lead to increased involvement and support from their side. Interviews may be in a form of structure (predefine format and order of questions), unstructured (no predefined format and order of questions) or a combination of both. For an interview to yield desired results, the interviewer should possess the required domain/subject area knowledge, have the necessary experience & skills in conducting & documenting interviews, and share a good rapport with the interviewee. The interviewee’s readiness in providing the required information and his/her clarity of goal has significant effects on the interview outcome as well.
Key Benefits of Interviews
Interviews enable detailed discussions on questions & even observation of non-verbal actions, allows for follow-up questions to clarify doubts, and helps sustain the interviewee’s confidentiality if required.
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Workshops
Workshops by a business analyst to elicit information in a collaborative and facilitated set-up where stakeholders. It teams up for a set period of time to achieve a pre-determined goal. workshops in a focused manner in accordance with ground rules like respecting each other’s opinions, limiting discussion on an off-topic, and reaching a shared agreement on decision making. A workshop includes a neutral third-party facilitator who establishes the purpose, desired outcomes, session agenda and put the ground rules in force; a scribe who documents the decisions and track deferred items; participants who discuss the agenda items and share views. A business analyst may perform the role of a facilitator, scribe, or participant in the workshops.
Key Benefits of Workshops
Workshops foster collaboration and help the participants to develop and share understanding and reach decisions in quick time. As a result, It prevents any confusion which may result from having separate discussions with individual stakeholders in scenarios where mutual understanding and agreement is needed. It is more cost-effective as compared to carrying out multiple interviews.
Find out Types of Requirements as per BABOK Classification Schema in this detailed article
Observation
Observation is an elicitation technique that helps in collecting information by observing process flows and work environments of stakeholders. It helps business analysts in situations where users are unable to explain requirements clearly. It is in an ACTIVE manner where the observer asks any questions to extract information. In leading to a quick understanding of rationale & hidden processes or the PASSIVE manner where the observer doesn’t intervene in activities by stakeholders & raise any queries once the observation is over.
Key Benefits of Observation
Observation provides practical insights into the actual real-world activities and even enables the identification of informally performed tasks. It also facilitates the identification of areas that can potentially be improved.
Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a technique because it promotes the creative thinking of a group to generate numerous thoughts/ideas/information. Generally, it takes a short period of time. It draws on the creativity and experience of a set of participants to generate information in an engaging environment. since participants build on each other’s ideas/opinions/thoughts/viewpoints to generate more information. This technique has the potential to discover information by encouraging the group to think out of the box. It generally involves a facilitator who takes up the task of ensuring that there is no judgment or criticism of ways of thinking of a participant and prevents any heated arguments.
Key Benefits of Brainstorming
Brainstorming creates a tension-free & non-judgemental environment thereby fostering creative thinking & complete participation. for instance, It leads to the elicitation of a wide amount of information in a short span of time and even helps discover and touch upon unexplored areas.
Document Analysis
Document Analysis is an elicitation technique to extract information by examining existing documentation. however It is beneficial in a scenario where the Subject Matter Experts are not available to participate in elicitation activities. Key activities carried out as a part of document analysis include evaluating whether the source document is relevant, current & credible, in other words, conducting a detailed document review & recording notes; performing review with subject matter experts to validate findings. Commonly used document types used for analysis are process documents, system specifications, contracts. It also involves statements of work, business cases, business plans, training manuals, meeting minutes.
Key Benefits of Document Analysis
Document analysis leverages reliable material that is already in place and available for use. It helps in clearly differentiating between what is current (and what is not) thereby serving as base for future analysis. It can be in conjunction with other elicitation techniques. as well, serving as preparatory material before performing other elicitation techniques or validate the results of other elicitation techniques.
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