How are the requirements for a new system gathered, and how does a feasibility study decide whether to proceed?
Systems analysis: identifying stakeholders, gathering requirements (interviews, questionnaires, observation, document analysis), analysing the current system, the feasibility study and its factors, and writing a requirements specification.
An Eduqas Component 1 answer on systems analysis: identifying stakeholders, the fact-finding techniques for gathering requirements, analysing the current system, the feasibility study and its TELOS factors, and writing a requirements specification.
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to identify stakeholders, describe the fact-finding techniques used to gather requirements, analyse the current system, carry out a feasibility study (covering its factors), and write a requirements specification. This is the first phase of the systems lifecycle and is examined with applied scenarios.
The answer
Stakeholders and requirements gathering
Analysing the current system
The feasibility study and the requirements specification
Examples in context
Systems analysis is the real-world job of a business or systems analyst, and getting it wrong, missing a requirement or a stakeholder, is the most common cause of failed projects. The feasibility study is why some proposed systems are sensibly cancelled before they waste money. For the Eduqas project (Component 3), the investigation stage is exactly this work: identifying the user, gathering requirements and analysing the problem, and it is heavily marked. The requirements specification produced here is the direct input to the system design dot point that follows.
Try this
Q1. Name two fact-finding techniques used to gather requirements. [2 marks]
- Cue. Any two of: interviews, questionnaires, observation, document analysis.
Q2. State one advantage of a questionnaire over an interview. [1 mark]
- Cue. It reaches a large number of people quickly and cheaply (and gives quantitative data).
Q3. Give two factors considered in a feasibility study. [2 marks]
- Cue. Any two of: technical, economic, legal, operational, schedule feasibility.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas 20196 marksA company wants to replace its paper-based booking system. Describe two fact-finding techniques an analyst could use to gather requirements, giving an advantage of each, and explain what is meant by the feasibility of the proposed system.Show worked answer →
Fact-finding techniques (up to 4 marks, two each):
Interviews: structured or unstructured conversations with stakeholders; advantage, the analyst can ask follow-up questions and explore answers in depth.
Questionnaires: a set of questions distributed to many users; advantage, they reach a large number of people quickly and cheaply and give quantitative data.
Observation: watching the current system in use; advantage, reveals what really happens rather than what people say happens.
Document analysis: examining existing forms and reports; advantage, shows the actual data and outputs the system handles.
Feasibility (up to 2 marks): an assessment of whether the proposed system is achievable and worthwhile, considering whether it is technically possible, affordable, legal, operationally workable and deliverable in the available time.
Markers reward two techniques each with an advantage, and a correct explanation of feasibility (is it achievable and worthwhile across the relevant factors).
Eduqas 20215 marksList and briefly explain the factors considered in a feasibility study.Show worked answer →
Award up to 5 marks, one per factor correctly explained (the TELOS factors):
Technical: is the technology available and capable of building the system?
Economic: do the benefits justify the costs (a cost-benefit analysis)?
Legal: will the system comply with relevant laws (such as data protection)?
Operational: will the system fit how the organisation works and will users accept it?
Schedule (time): can the system be delivered within the required timescale?
Markers reward the technical, economic, legal, operational and schedule factors, each with a brief, correct explanation.
Related dot points
- System design: designing the inputs, outputs, processing and data structures, the use of flowcharts and pseudocode, the data dictionary, file and interface design, and specifying the hardware and software the proposed system needs.
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Sources & how we know this
- WJEC Eduqas GCE AS/A Level Computer Science specification (from 2015) — Eduqas (2015)