Introduction to Project Management and Writing

Week 3 - ethnographic research and needs analysis

OBJECTIVES: developing items from the mini proposal for the actual project design:

  • Needs analysis, 
  • ethnographic research ( = mini research task in class in groups)

OUTCOMES:

filling in the needs analysis chart: 

Needs analysis and ethnographic research
We will be using this handout in class. When ready, upload the file for your group into IS.

needs analysis and ethnographic research chart
Please upload the file with your needs andalysis and the basic ethnographic research (introduced in class)

Differences between Needs Analysis and Ethnographic Research

  1. Needs Analysis:
    • Purpose: The primary goal is to identify and articulate the specific needs, requirements, and expectations of the stakeholders or target audience. It focuses on understanding what is necessary to solve a particular problem or to achieve a certain objective.
    • Methods: Techniques often include surveys, questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and data analysis to gather quantitative and qualitative information about users' needs.
    • Outcome: The outcome is a clear set of requirements or criteria that the project must meet to be considered successful. This can include functional requirements, user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.
  2. Ethnographic Research:
    • Purpose: The primary goal is to gain a deep, contextual understanding of users' behaviors, cultures, environments, and interactions. It aims to uncover insights about how people live, work, and play, and how these insights can inform design decisions.
    • Methods: Techniques often include participant observation, contextual inquiry, field studies, and immersive interviews. Researchers spend significant time in the field observing and engaging with users in their natural environments.
    • Outcome: The outcome is a rich, nuanced understanding of the users and their contexts, which can reveal underlying behaviors, motivations, pain points, and opportunities that might not be evident through more traditional research methods.

Integrating Needs Analysis and Ethnographic Research

In practice, these two types of research complement each other:

  • Needs Analysis provides a structured understanding of what the project needs to achieve, setting clear goals and benchmarks.
  • Ethnographic Research offers deeper insights into the contextual and cultural factors that influence how these needs manifest and can be addressed effectively.
Needs analysis chart
This chart can help you when determining needs for your project. You are welcome to use this for your own reference.