One way to make this job easier is to take the client perspective. Before the discussions even begin about what the existing business needs really are, the analyst should endeavor to mentally switch to a client perspective of the situation. Doing this takes substantial preparation, adequate time, and a willingness to listen and learn. At this point in the process, details, issues, and requirements begin pouring in at an ever increasing rate. During numerous formal requirements sessions, informal meetings, and casual conversations, ideas surface which must be recorded for later consideration.
People elect to rely on their biological memory instead of a making tangible record.
The ideas can be forgotten. A systematic review of the ideas, issues, and requirements discovered to date is not possible thus making it difficult to insure that everything has been addressed. The business client's confidence is diminished when no written record exists of the discussions. Not only does note-taking capture important information, it can also be done in such a manner that it actually enhances the image of the business analyst. This relatively simple gesture can increase business client confidence, decrease worry about forgetfulness, underscore clear understanding, and signal the importance of each person's thinking.