In essence, the responses sought come down
to one single question: what information does
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each department want? However, instead of
asking one all-encompassing and open-ended
question, a step-by-step questionnaire could be
devised to facilitate the task of each department
representative. Answering them one-by-one will
make it easier for them to figure out what
information their department will need. Relevant
questions could be formulated along these lines:
What decisions do you regularly make regarding
routine, monthly, or yearly operations? What
information do you need to make these decisions
and why? What data do you regularly get that
are particularly of great help to you? What
special studies do you periodically request?
What information would you want that you are
not getting now? How frequently would you
want each piece of information and why? What
trade report magazine would you like to see on a
regular basis? What specific topics would you
like to be kept informed on? What data analysis
programs would you like IT to acquire?