Look for exception and error conditions. Look for opportunities to ask"what if" questions. "What if it doesn't arrive? What if the signature is missing? What if the balance is incorrect? What if two orders are exacdy the same?" The essence of good systems analysis is understanding all the what ifs." Make a conscious effort to identify al the exception conditions and then ask about them. More than any other skill, the ability to think of the exceptions wil help you discover the detailed business rules. It is a hard skill to reach from a textbook, experience will hone this skil. You will teach yourself this skil by conscientiously practicing it .
Probe for details. In addition to looking for exception conditions, the analyst must probe to ensure a complete understanding of all procedures and rules. One of the most difficult skills to learn as a new systems analyst is how to get enough details. Frequently, it is easy to get general overview of how a process works. But do not be afraid to ask detailed questions until you thoroughly understand how the process works and what information is used. You cannot do effective systems analyss by glossing over the details.