Outline one advantage of using surveys as a method of obtaining requirements from stakeholders.

Outline one disadvantage of using surveys as a method of obtaining requirements from stakeholders.

Identify one other method of obtaining requirements from stakeholders.

Outline two advantages of using prototypes.

Explain why more than one cycle of analysis and design might be needed.

Explain why this computer system should be tested thoroughly before being put into operation.

Award [2 max] 
Surveys allow analysts to obtain appropriate information quickly;
from a large number of persons / stakeholders;

Standardized question formats are prepared;
that can provide data that can be easily quantified/allow quantitative analysis (the success of a survey depends on the effectiveness of questions);

The use of standardized formats;
minimizes the risk if the analyst adding their opinion;

Survey is a straightforward/easy/practical way of gathering data;
it can be distributed using various methods (printed copies, e-mail, embedded in a website, online forms)

Surveys allow greater anonymity for respondents;
which can lead to more honest responses;

Award [2 max] 

Poorly designed surveys;
May make it difficult to analyse the data;
(Response may be limited/not all questions answered / not all forms will be returned;
Can be challenging to analyse the collected data ;)

Questions in the survey were not effective;
Can be differences in how people understand the survey questions;
Data gathered cannot be quantified;

Award [1 max] 
Direct observation;
Interviewing;
Focus groups;
Examining existing documents/ Literature searches;
Investigating previous solutions;

Award [4 max] 
The final product meets the requirements/ is more successful;
as feedback is provided by the users during the development process;

Costs/time saved at a later stage;
as early feedback avoids later changes (which may require a considerable amount of time/cost);

The best design can be decided upon early;
As it allows different prototypes can be tried out/tested;

Mark as 2 and 2.

Award [3 max] 
Another cycle of analysis and design might be needed because the stakeholder could ask for modifications;
because errors or omissions are found that need to be corrected;
new/different features could be added that affect the current design;
which affects the costs/ delivery time / hardware requirements/ contributes significantly to system quality and performance;

Award [3 max] 
so that it functions the way it is supposed to / to ensure that the actual outcomes are equal to the predicted outcomes;
so that it meets its design specifications functions;
so that functions correctly / to eliminate any errors/bugs;
so that the speed/capacity/compatibility issues are solved;
so that all security features are configured and enabled;
because wrong/incorrect/stolen information could have serious consequences for its customers (accept an actual consequence);
because wrong information could harm the company’s reputation / loss of earnings / sued/ etc.;

Candidates often only gained one of the available marks by stating part of the advantage of using surveys, such as 'a survey is a straightforward method of gathering data.' Candidates who expanded their answer, for example, by adding 'from a large number of respondents', achieved both marks. 

Candidates who gave a full answer to outline a disadvantage of using surveys as a method of data collection achieved both marks, but candidates who only gave a brief or partially complete answer only achieved one mark, as with part 9(a)(i).

The vast majority of candidates were able to provide an alternative method of obtaining requirements from stakeholders, with interviews being a popular choice. A small number of candidates erroneously suggested 'questionnaires', which is the same as a survey.

This question was generally well answered with the vast majority of candidates being able to give advantages of using prototypes. Only a small proportion of candidates achieved all four marks, but there were many candidates who achieved two or three marks.

Candidates were able to explain why more than one cycle of analysis and design might be needed with many two- and three-mark answers.

Candidates were able to explain why the computer system should be tested thoroughly before being put into operation, with many candidates achieving two or three marks.