Software Architect's Handbook

Observation

Observation is a technique where someone studies a stakeholder in their work environment, performing tasks related to the software project. It is particularly useful when you are attempting to understand a current process. It is effective because the observer may notice things that aren't mentioned through other elicitation techniques. Stakeholders may forget certain requirements or may not even be aware that what they are doing is a requirement that needs to be documented. By observing the actual work performed, you can sometimes gather important information.

This technique can either be performed in a passive way or in an active way, depending on what is agreed upon and what would be most effective. If the observer is passive, ...