Starting The Process

1. Starting The Process Chapter 5 Database Design For Mere Mortals

2. Conducting Interviews • Provide valuable information that can affect the design of the database structure • Information gathering tool • insights from users • clarify facts you don’t understand • Think about questions ahead of time • ask open ended questions • example… “how do you feel about our service?”

3. Set up guidelines for interviews • Set up guidelines for interviews • expectations of each person interviewed • people more willing to participate and more responsive • Set a limit of six people or less for each interview • As much as possible, conduct separate interviews for users and management

4. Whenever you have to interview several groups of people, designate a group leader for each group • Prior to the actual interview, let the participants know what you’re going to discuss and how the interview will be conducted.

5. Make sure that all participants understand that you appreciate their taking part in the interview and that their responses to the interview questions are valuable to the overall design of the project • Conduct the interview in a well-lit room, separate from distracting noise, with a large table and comfortable chairs, have coffee and munchies on hand

6. If you’re not very good at taking notes, either assign that task to a dependable transcriber for each interview or get the group’s permission to use a tape recorder to record the interview • Give everyone your equal and undivided attention • Make sure everyone understands that you are the official arbitrator if and when a dispute arises

7. Keep the pace of the interview moving • Always maintain control of the interview • Case Study Mike’s Bike’s

8. Defining a Mission Statement • A good mission statement is succinct and to the point • Example… “The purpose of the New Starz Talent Agency database is to maintain the data we use and to provide the information we need to run the day-to-day affairs of our business.”

9. Not so good mission statement • “The purpose of the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner’s database is to keep track of applications for land use, maintain data on applicants, keep a record of all hearings, and maintain data for office use.” • Better mission statement“ • The purpose of the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner’s database is to maintain the data we use in support of the services this office provides to the citizens of this county”

10. Possible questions to ask to help define mission statement: • how would you describe the purpose of your organization to a new client? • What would you say is the purpose of your organization • What is the major function of your organization?

11. “How would you describe what your organization does?” • “Will you define the single most important reason for the existence of your organization?” • “What is the main focus of your organization?”

12. Defining the Mission Objectives • Statements that represent general tasks supported by the data maintained in the database. • Declarative sentence that clearly defines a general task and is free from unnecessary details

13. Examples: • “we need to maintain complete patient address information.” • “we need to keep track of all customer sales.” • “we need to make sure an account representative is responsible for no more than twenty accounts at any given time.” • “we need to keep track of vehicle maintenance.” • “we need to produce employee phone directories.”

14. Composing mission objectives • determine what types of general tasks that need to be supported by the data in the database. • Interview questions: • “what kind of work do you perform on a daily basis?” • “how would you define your job description?” • “what kind of data do you work with?” • “what types of reports do you generate?” • “what types of things do you keep track of?” • “what types of services does your organization provide?” • “how would you describe the type of work you do?”