How to Gather Requirements for Your Project – Part II

The earlier part of the series is available here.

9. Ask direct and indirect questions:

Direct questions - It results in a definitive answer.
Indirect Questions: It helps you to gain more clarity. And it is left open at the end.

10. Schedule a follow-up date and time for a part which is difficult:
You try to get a commitment for certain aspects which can be understood at that point of time. This may not be immediate, but getting a commitment will help you.

11. Exemplification:
Ask for examples. It helps to understand it in a more pragmatic way.


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12. Send a prelist of questionnaire:
This helps if the person is a subject matter expert and you have certain understanding on the subject. The questions which you most care about should be there. This gives him some time to have a look at it and come prepared.
For customers belonging to countries where English is not spoken as the first language such as India, Japan, China etc., this kind of communication is very effective.

13. Stimulate:

These are open ended questions in a different way. Here you ask questions like:
- Do you think it can be done in a better way?
- Is there any alternatives for this?

14. Come prepared:

You should come to a meeting like this fully prepared. You can not take any second chances here.

15. Get the needed references:
If you particular thing can not be understood by the person in question, then you ask for references and his consent for it. This helps to get a head start in talking with the other person on it.

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