Project Based Problem Solving and Decision Making

4Data Gathering

4.0 Understanding Data Gathering

Data-gathering techniques are a necessity in all Domain Areas of the PMBOK^® Guide and, as such, can be considered as a crossover skill that is needed by everyone involved in the project. It may be difficult or even impossible to make the right decision without having all of the necessary information available. The larger and more complex the project, the greater the need for effective data-gathering skills. Unfortunately, the organizational process assets and enterprise project management methodologies and frameworks that project teams use do not necessarily provide all of the information needed to manage a project. The situation can become even worse if the team gathers the wrong information.

As an example of the use of data gathering, as part of the Scope Management area of knowledge in the PMBOK^® Guide, data-gathering techniques are used to collect the requirements, which is the process of documenting the stakeholders' needs to meet the project's objectives. Without effective data gathering, it may be impossible to meet the customer's and stakeholders' expectations.

When managing a project, the project manager must not expect that all of the information needed will be provided by the organization process assets. Although not often explicitly defined, it is the job of the project manager to gather all the necessary information whether it is done individually or through team members. Companies today maintain knowledge repositories ...