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ChaPter 5 • InformatIon GatherInG: unobtrusIve methods 137

To proceed when creating a catalog of forms to help you understand the information flow
currently in use in the business:
1. Collect examples of all the forms in use, whether officially sanctioned by the business or
not (official versus bootleg forms).
2. Note the type of form (whether printed in-house, handwritten, computer-generated in-
house, online forms, Web fill-in forms, printed externally and purchased, etc.).
3. Document the intended distribution pattern.
4. Compare the intended distribution pattern with who actually receives the form.

Although this procedure is time-consuming, it is useful. Another approach is to sample data
capture forms that have already been completed. Remember to check databases that store con-
sumer data when sampling input from ecommerce transactions. An analyst must keep in mind
many particular questions, as illustrated in Figure 5.5. They include the following aspects of HCI
relating to usability, aesthetics, and usefulness:
1. Is the form filled out in its entirety? If not, what items have been omitted, and are they con-
sistently omitted? Why?

Figure 5.5
Questions to ask about official
and bootleg forms that are already
Farmfresh
filled out.
Reorder of Shorted Dairy Products
Date
Store Name
Store Number
Item Requested
Cases
Item Requested
Milk (1/2 gals.) Cases
Whole Milk (quarts)
2% Whole Official form can
1% 2% overwhelm people
Skim 1% by asking for too
Buttermilk Skim much information.
Chocolate
Buttermilk
Yogurt Chocolate
Plain
Vanilla Pineapple
Peach
Dutch Apple
Blueberry Banana
Boysenberry
Mixed Fruit
Strawberry There may be
Raspberry
Lemon no logical order
Ice Cream to the form.
Deluxe Pints
Deluxe 1/2 Gallons
Deluxe Quarts
Skinny Minnies
Premium Pints
Premium Quarts
Requested by (employee number)
Reason for Shortage Total Cases Ordered
Driver Number
Route Number
Store
Date
Product shorted Driver
Is the total
Cases needed really needed?
Dairy manager’s initials
“Bootleg” forms
arise to simplify
the problem.