Information needs analysis
The purpose of an information needs analysis is to derive application and programming-specific requirements for information systems. In business informatics and information science, this information requirement is defined in a user-related manner, so that not only the information requirement of the tasks (objective information requirement), but also the information requirement of the user (subjective information requirement) of the information system under consideration is the guiding principle.
Fundamental questions
The following must be clarified for each project in the information requirements analysis:
- What information is required (content)?
- How often is information required (frequency)?
- In what form should the information be available (form)?
- How should information be transported (medium)?
- How important is information for the fulfillment of a task (value)?
Instruments
- Task analysis: Analysis of the decision-making structures when completing tasks; the need for information is derived from the information deficits that arise
- Document analysis : Determination of the information requirements from the documents that are relevant for the decision-making process
- Reporting method: information deficits are derived from the reports of the decision makers in order to determine the information requirements ( interviews , questionnaires )
Criticism and expansion
The information needs analysis is criticized insofar as the instruments it uses (such as interviews) are too imprecise and must be incorporated more precisely into the relevant organizational context. Therefore it is tried to z. B. to be supplemented by a systematic analysis of process models in the development of management information systems.
literature
- B. Strauch: Development of a method for information needs analysis in data warehousing . Diss., University of St. Gallen. 2002.
- D. Nicholas: Assessing Information Needs: Tools, Techniques and Concepts for the Internet Age . London 2000.
- M. Kluck: Methods of information analysis. An introduction to the empirical methods of information needs analysis and market and user research . In: Marianne Buder, Werner Rehfeld, Thomas Seeger, Dietmar Strauch (eds.): Basics of practical information and documentation. A manual for the introduction to technical information work (= DGD series ). Saur, Munich 1997, p. 795-821 .
- G. Walpoth: Computer-aided information needs analysis . Strategic planning and implementation of IT projects . Heidelberg 1992, ISBN 3-7908-0648-X .