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ChaPter 4 • InformatIon GatherInG: InteraCtIve methods 125

7. What is a probing question? What is the purpose of using a probing question in interviews?
8. Define what is meant by pyramid structure. When is it useful to employ this structure in interviews?
9. Define what is meant by funnel structure. When is it useful to employ this structure in interviews?
10. Define what is meant by diamond-shaped structure. When is it useful to employ this structure in
interviews?
11. Define joint application design (JAD).
12. List the situations that warrant use of JAD in place of personal organizational interviews.
13. List the potential benefits of using JAD.
14. List the three potential drawbacks of using JAD as an alternative to personal interviews.
15. What kinds of information is a systems analyst seeking through the use of questionnaires or surveys?
16. List four situations in which the use of questionnaires is appropriate.
17. What are the two basic question types used on questionnaires?
18. List two reasons a systems analyst would use a closed question on a questionnaire.
19. List two reasons a systems analyst would use an open-ended question on a questionnaire.
20. What are the seven guidelines for choosing language for a questionnaire?
21. Define what is meant by scaling.
22. What are two kinds of information or scales that systems analysts most commonly use?
23. What are nominal scales used for?
24. Give an example of an interval scale.
25. When should an analyst use an interval scale?
26. Define reliability as it refers to the construction of scales.
27. Define validity as it refers to the construction of scales.
28. List three problems that can occur because of careless construction of scales.
29. What four actions can be taken to ensure that a questionnaire’s format is conducive to a good
response rate?
30. Which questions should be placed first on a questionnaire?
31. Why should questions on similar topics be clustered together?
32. What is an appropriate placement for controversial questions?
33. List five methods for administering a questionnaire.
34. What considerations are necessary when questionnaires are Web based?

Problems

1. As part of your systems analysis project to update the automated accounting functions for Xanadu
Corporation, a manufacturer of digital cameras, you will interview Leo Blum, the chief accountant.
Write four to six interview objectives covering his use of information sources, information formats,
decision-making frequency, desired qualities of information, and decision-making style.
a. In a paragraph, write down how you will approach Leo to set up an interview.
b. State which structure you will choose for this interview. Why?
c. Leo has four subordinates who also use the system. Would you interview them also? Why or
why not?
d. Would you also try to interview customers (visitors to the website)? Are there better ways to get
the opinions of customers? Why or why not?
e. Write three open-ended questions that you will email to Leo prior to your interview. Write
a sentence explaining why it is preferable to conduct an interview in person rather than via
email.
2. Here are five questions written by one of your systems analysis team members. Her interviewee is
the local manager of LOWCO, an outlet of a national discount chain, who has asked you to work on
a management information system to provide inventory information. Review these questions for your
team member.
1. When was the last time you thought seriously about your decision-making process?
2. Who are the trouble makers in your store—I mean the ones who will show the most resistance to
changes in the system that I have proposed?
3. Are there any decisions you need more information about before you can make them?
4. You don’t have any major problems with the current inventory control system, do you?
5. Tell me a little about the output you’d like to see.
a. Rewrite each question so that it is more effective in eliciting information.
b. Order your questions in either a pyramid, funnel, or diamond-shaped structure and label the
questions with the name of the structure you used.
c. What guidelines can you give your team member for improving her interviewing questions in
the future? Make a list of them.