Briefly describe the three steps in the user needs assessment process and the primary activities in each step.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Each step in a user needs analysis project can be grouped into one of three phases: preparation, investigation, or decision. In the preparation phase, analysts try to understand the personal or organizational goals as well as the decision criteria and constraints; they try to define the problem, identify the roles of stakeholders, and identify sources of information. In the investigation phase, analysts try to understand the present situation and alternatives to it. Finally, in the decision phase, analysts develop a model of the proposed solution and decide whether to build or buy it. Within each phase, analysts take specific steps that allow them to obtain information and propose a solution in an orderly fashion. By performing certain tasks for each step, analysts ensure that they have considered relevant sources of information in order to arrive at an appropriate solution for each unique situation.