Question

A disadvantage of observations and ethnographic studies in software requirements are that

A. they can be done both actively and passively.
B. They occur over a long period of time.
C. they are focused on the system as-is.
D. they are focused on the system to-be

Answer 1

Observations and ethnographic studies are time-consuming and focus on the current system (as-is), which can be a disadvantage for software development that aims to anticipate future needs.

Step-by-step explanation:

An observed disadvantage of observations and ethnographic studies in the context of software requirements is that they focus on the system as-is, rather than the system to-be. Since ethnography entails directly participating in the activities and events of a current culture or setting, it often provides insight into the existing conditions rather than future requirements. This can be a limitation when the goal is to develop software that needs to address future conditions or anticipate changes within the user environment. Additionally, these methods can be time-consuming and may lead to observer bias, where researchers may unconsciously skew their observations to fit their expectations.