Which elicitation techniques do you use and when?

Model answer

I choose the technique by the question I need answered.

Interviews for deep, individual views, especially with key stakeholders or when topics are sensitive.
Workshops to align many stakeholders quickly and resolve conflicts in the room.
Observation (job shadowing) to see how work really happens, which often differs from what people describe.
Document analysis to learn existing rules, forms and reports before meeting people.
Surveys to gather input from a large, dispersed group, when answers can be closed-ended.
Prototyping to make requirements concrete and get fast feedback on ideas that are hard to describe.

In practice I combine them: read documents first, interview a few people, then run a workshop to confirm and prioritize. I also record who said what, so each requirement stays traceable to a stakeholder.

Key points

Match the technique to the question and the audience
Observation reveals the real process, interviews reveal intent
Combine techniques and keep requirements traceable

Likely follow-ups

When would you choose a survey over interviews?
How do you prepare for a stakeholder interview?

Common mistakes

Relying on a single technique for every situation
Asking leading questions that confirm what you already assume