A group meeting sometimes is suggested as a useful compromise between interviews and questionnaires. In a group meeting, a systems analyst meets with a number of users at one time. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of group meetings.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Some possible advantages are:
• A group meeting requires less time than individual interviews with all the participants. With the same amount of the analyst’s time, more end users can contribute their knowledge and opinions.
• The systems analyst can respond to what is said and address follow-up questions to more than one user.
• The comments of one participant can trigger thoughts and discussion from others in the group.
• The analyst can observe interaction among the participants. This can reveal information about the way the organization functions.

Some possible disadvantages are:
• A group meeting is less personal than an interview. Some participants might be less candid in a group meeting than they would be in a one-to-one interview.
• It can be difficult to find a time when all the desired participants can attend a group meeting.
• Because each person must be given sufficient time to participate, a group meeting can become lengthy and repetitive.
• One participant might dominate the discussion, taking up the time of all the other participants.
• A questionnaire can reach many more people than could attend a group meeting.