Back to Facilitation Techniques for Elicitation

Focus Groups

5 minutes 5 Questions

A focus group is a qualitative research technique used in business analysis to elicit perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards a product, service, concept, or idea. It involves organizing a small group of stakeholders or potential users to discuss specific topics in depth. The facilitator leads the discussion, encouraging participants to share their thoughts and interact with one another. The purpose of a focus group is to gain insights into the collective views and experiences of the participants. It allows the business analyst to understand the needs, expectations, and pain points of the target audience. Focus groups are particularly valuable when designing new products or services, improving existing ones, or exploring how users interact with a system. In a focus group, the facilitator prepares open-ended questions to guide the discussion but remains flexible to pursue interesting or unexpected topics that arise. The interactive nature of the group allows participants to build upon each other's ideas, often uncovering insights that might not surface in individual interviews. Non-verbal cues and group dynamics can also provide valuable information. Key benefits of focus groups include the ability to gather rich, detailed data and to observe the language and terminology used by participants, which can inform communication strategies. They also provide a platform for participants to express their thoughts in their own words, leading to a deeper understanding of their perspectives. However, there are challenges associated with focus groups. Group dynamics can influence individual responses; some participants may dominate the conversation while others may be reluctant to share. The facilitator must skillfully manage the discussion to ensure balanced participation and to mitigate biases. Anonymity is limited, which may affect the willingness of participants to disclose honest opinions, especially on sensitive topics. Logistical considerations include selecting a representative sample of participants, scheduling sessions, and providing a comfortable environment conducive to open discussion. Recording and analyzing the qualitative data require careful attention to capture nuances in the conversation. In summary, focus groups are a valuable facilitation technique for elicitation in business analysis. They enable the collection of in-depth insights from multiple participants simultaneously, aiding in the development of products and services that align with user needs and expectations.

Test mode:
Start practice test
PMI-PBA - Facilitation Techniques for Elicitation Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)

Question 1

During a focus group session for requirements gathering, at what point should you introduce the session agenda to participants?

Correct Answer: At the start of the session as part of the opening remarks

The agenda should be introduced at the start of the session as part of the opening remarks. This is the best practice because: 1. It sets clear expectations from the beginning 2. It helps participants understand the structure and flow of the meeting 3. It allows participants to mentally prepare for the topics to be discussed 4. It demonstrates professionalism and good facilitation skills 5. It gives participants a chance to request agenda adjustments before the session begins The other options are incorrect because: Waiting until after preliminary discussions or introductions delays important structural information and may cause confusion about the session's purpose and flow. Introducing the agenda after participants share initial thoughts on project scope could lead to unfocused or off-topic discussions, and waste valuable session time. Establishing the agenda early helps maintain focus and ensures all necessary topics will be covered within the allocated time frame.

Question 2

How often should focus group sessions be scheduled when gathering requirements for the same project topic?

Correct Answer: Until data saturation is reached and no new insights emerge

The best approach for scheduling focus group sessions is to continue until data saturation is reached and no new insights emerge. This is the optimal strategy because: The goal of focus groups is to gather comprehensive requirements and insights. Data saturation indicates that all key perspectives and requirements have been captured. This approach ensures that no critical information is missed. It is flexible and adapts to project complexity. Why other answers are insufficient: Scheduling sessions every two weeks is arbitrary and may not align with information needs. Setting a fixed number of five sessions may be too many or too few depending on project scope and complexity. Monthly sessions during requirements gathering may miss crucial insights and create gaps in understanding if saturation hasn't been reached. The most effective approach is to continue sessions until no new meaningful information surfaces, ensuring complete requirements gathering.

Question 3

What is a key indicator that a focus group session has been successful in requirements gathering?

Correct Answer: Participants build on each other's ideas to create new insights

The key indicator of a successful focus group session in requirements gathering is when participants actively build on each other's ideas to create new insights. This demonstrates genuine engagement and collaborative thinking, which is the primary purpose of focus group discussions. This synergistic interaction leads to richer, more comprehensive requirements that may not have emerged from individual interviews. It shows that participants feel comfortable enough to share and build upon others' perspectives. The other options are less ideal because: - Equal speaking time, while important for fairness, doesn't necessarily indicate quality of insights or successful requirements gathering - Ending with technical specifications is premature at the focus group stage, as this is meant for requirements discovery, not solution design - Individual detailed feedback from each participant misses the point of group dynamics and collaborative insight generation that makes focus groups valuable

Go Premium

PMI Professional in Business Analysis Preparation Package (2024)

  • 3015 Superior-grade PMI Professional in Business Analysis practice questions.
  • Accelerated Mastery: Deep dive into critical topics to fast-track your mastery.
  • Unlock Effortless PMI-PBA preparation: 5 full exams.
  • 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed: Full refund with no questions if unsatisfied.
  • Bonus: If you upgrade now you get upgraded access to all courses
  • Risk-Free Decision: Start with a 7-day free trial - get premium features at no cost!
More Focus Groups questions
24 questions (total)
Start 24 question test