Requirements Strategery and Interview Propositionating

In order to build a plan for execution of an online dive community, it is crucial to find out the needs of the stakeholders within the community. This means working with divers, dive companies, and boat captains to find out the best way to connect the members of each group to one another. There will, of course, be conflicting priorities, as well as desired functionality that is outside the scope of this class. However the goal will be to find a way to mutually benefit all involved parties.

The first category of stakeholders to engage is divers themselves. They are the majority population of the social network, thus their needs will be our top priority. Divers will be asked to complete an online survey with the following introductory information and questions:

Thank you for taking the time to complete this brief survey. We are working to build an online community for divers, and we would like to find out how we can best connect you to the community. By answering the following 10 questions, you can help guide our implementation process!

1. Are you currently active in social media such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.? (Yes/No)
2. Do you use any online diving resources? (Yes/No)
3. If so, please list your top 3 (_________________)
4. Do you regularly keep your dive log? (Yes/No)
5. Do you prefer to buy or rent gear? (Buy/Rent)
6. When traveling, how important is it to dive? (1: not at all important, 2: not very important, 3: somewhat important, 4: very important)
7. Which of the following features of a dive community would interest you? (Select all that apply)
• Logging dives
• Connecting with local divers/clubs
• Forums
• Buying new gear
• Buying used gear
• Reading gear reviews
• Booking charters
• Booking classes
• Checking dive conditions
• Finding dive coordinates
• Sharing photos
• Logging certifications
• Emergency contact information
• On-call dive support (gear rentals, tank fills, instruction, charters, etc.)
• Insurance
8. Of the choices you selected, which 3 are the most important? (Select up to 3)
9. If a new social network were built that smoothly integrated these items you've selected, do you see yourself taking part in the community? (Yes/No)
10. If you would like to receive updates on implementation, please provide your email address (survey results will otherwise be kept anonymous): ________________

Thanks again for your participation!

For those divers who do submit their email address for updates, an initial thank you note will be emailed, followed by a monthly newsletter as implementation proceeds.

The next stakeholder to guide the development process is the dive company. For the purposes of this project, we will focus on an established dive club in the local area, as well as several instructors. Individuals will be asked to participate in a brief initial interview, and those interested in continuing will be invited to additional scrums throughout the development process. The initial interview will be conducted face-to-face at a mutually agreed-upon location. The following questions will comprise the bulk of the initial face-to-face interview:

1. What is your current process for booking dive trips/classes locally?
2. When you first dive with a new friend/student, how do you ensure they are ready for the level of diving/instruction you are pursuing?
3. What sort of emergency information do you currently keep for those diving with you?
4. Upon completion of the dive, what sort of records do you keep? What information goes into those records?
5. Is there any information you share with divers after a dive? (photos, dive log, etc.)
6. Do you have any sort of long-term follow-up with divers? What does that involve?
7. What is the number-one way in which technology could enhance your participation in the dive community?

The goal of this information-gathering session is to find out any current breakdowns in the process, as well as the information needed to facilitate a simpler process. After the initial interview, a thank-you email will be sent to those opting to not continue working throughout the project. Upon project completion, a hand-written note will be sent to the individuals who stayed active with developers through the semester as well as a possible invitation to attend an underwater launch party and become founding members of the community.

Finally, integration of a dive network would not be complete without including boat captains in the community. The interview process would be similar to that of the dive companies and instructors, but the questions will focus more on the needs of captains:

1. What is your current process for booking dive trips?
2. Do you have a way to advertise last-minute space available on your boat?
3. What is your current process for determining your dive location?
4. When you book dives, are you responsible for ensuring the appropriate expertise/certification of your divers, or does that responsibility fall solely on the companies who book through you?
5. Do you have a list of instructors you work with, or is that also the responsibility of the dive shop?
6. What is your process for ensuring all divers are accounted for after a dive?
7. If a diver turns up missing, what is your emergency action plan?
8. What is the number-one way in which technology could enhance your participation in the dive community?

The follow-up for boat captains will also follow the the same plan as the dive clubs/instructors, employing post-interview thank-you e-mails for single engagement individuals and more engaging interaction with long-term collaborators.