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INTERVIEW QUESTION:

When faced with the user requirement "I want a flag to indicate premium customers" what questions would you ask?

Posted by Guy Beauchamp

// 10005 Views // 6 Additional Answers & Comments

Categories: Requirements Analysis (BABOK KA), Analytical and Problem Solving Skills

ANSWER

The problem with the requirement as expressed is that it is a solution to a problem that you have not been informed about so you can't analyze whether it is a good solution or not. You will have to investigate the real requirement(s) behind the presenting requirement.

1. At what point in and in which business processes would the identification happen? Who will do it?

2. What will you do when you have identified a premium customer?

3. Now I understand why you want to identify premium customers, what other requirements would also help achieve this aim?

4. Now I understand your requirements in this area, which project objectives will they help deliver? I.e. is it in scope?

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ADDITIONAL ANSWERS / COMMENTS

Ankur posted on Saturday, February 9, 2008 5:35 AM

Asking a question like why you want to flag your premium customers will be very naive and show that the BA is not having the domain knowledge. more appropriate will be to ask "how would you want to change the business process for the premium customers", what are the criterions for premium customers?

pdte posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 2:38 AM

I guess Following questions/information we need to ask/gather
1. Customer Company Profile
2. Current or new customer? Relationship history with our firm
3. Eligibility criteria for customer to be Premium/Esteem?(Covered above)
4. Business Process context of the flagging of such customers(Covered above)
5. What will be pre-conditions/post- Conditions
6. What will be end objective- flagging or to offer some special services to these customers.
7. What will be the deliverables from your side?

Analyst Kris posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 5:59 AM

Well, I would say...

1) What QUALIFIES while flagging the premium customers?

2) What PROMPTS to flag the premium customers?

3) Why you want to flag?

4) What will happen after flagging? (This question will prepare you to see if it affects any other BP)

5) What if you do NOT flag?

Don Stewart posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 11:37 PM

I think the fundamental point with this question is still that the customer has presented a solution not a requirement and whatever questions are asked the primary goal of the BA is to understand what is driving the customer to ask for this solution. What is the problem they wish to solve?

Curtis Gross posted on Monday, March 2, 2009 4:34 PM

Whenever the business recommends a solution (in this case, the flag), always ask the question "In order to do what?" to get at the business need. This is a jedi BA trick that will serve you well.

tarna posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 11:38 PM

I always ask in return:

What is the business problem you are attempting to solve?

That single question asked in response has served me well.

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