INFORMATION GATHERING:

UNOBTRUSIVE METHODS
Presented By:
Aganon, Mary Joy D.
De La Cruz, Clarisse B.
UNOBTRUSIVE METHOD

Sampling
Investigation
Observing a decision makers behavior
Interaction with physical environment

SAMPLING
A process of systematically selecting
representative elements of a population.
NEED FOR SAMPLING:

Containing Costs
Speeding Up The Data Gathering
Improving Effectiveness
Reducing Bias
SAMPLING DESIGN

Determine the data to be collected or
described.
Determine the population to be sampled.
Choose the type of sample.
Decide on the sample size.
THE SAMPLE SIZE DECISION
INVESTIGATION
Investigation is the act of discovery and analysis of data. As the
systems analyst works to understand users, their organization,
and its information requirements, it will become important to
examine different types of hard data that offer information
unavailable through any other method of data gathering.

Analyzing Quantitative Documents
Analyzing Qualitative Documents

ANALYZING QUANTITATIVE
DOCUMENTS

Reports Used For Decision Making
Performance Reports
Records
Data Capture Forms

ANALYZING QUALITATIVE
DOCUMENTS
Email messages
Memos
Signs or posters on bulletin boards or in
work areas
web sites
Procedure Manuals
Policy handbooks


OBSERVING A DECISION
MAKERS BEHAVIOR
Observing decision makers, their physical
environment, and their interaction with their physical,
ergonomic environment is an important unobtrusive
method for the systems analyst.

ANALYST PLAYSCRIPT
Playscript involves observing the decision-makers
behavior and recording their actions using a series
of action verbs.

Examples:
Talking
Sampling
Corresponding
Deciding

INTERACTION WITH PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT
Observing the activities of decision makers is just
one way to assess their information requirements.
Observing the physical environment where decision
makers work also reveals much about their human
information requirements. Most often, such
observing means systematically examining the
offices of decision makers, because offices
constitute their primary workplace.

STRUCTURED OBSERVATION OF THE
ENVIRONMENT (STROBE)
The method for STRuctured OBservation of
the Environment is referred to as STROBE. It
can be used to gain a better understanding of
how decision makers actually gather, process,
store, and share information in order to get
their work done.


APPLYING STROBE
One way to implement STROBE is through the use of an
anecdotal checklist with meaningful shorthand symbols.
This approach to STROBE was useful in ascertaining the
information requirements for four key decision makers in a
franchise clothing store.
THANK YOU!