In a systems context it can be seen that the major methods of acquiring information about a system are Observation, Interviews, Questionnaires and Record Inspection/Literature Searches.
Katika mifumo mazingira inaweza kuonekana kuwa mbinu za kuu za kupata taarifa kuhusu mfumo ni Observation, Mahojiano, Maswali na Rekodi ukaguzi / Fasihi Searches.