Massive literature is available out there on what quality requirements are, core components of a requirement, requirements elicitation techniques like brainstorming, document analysis, requirements workshops, etc. Often these are excellent articles. We can all read and understand these concepts. But the real problem for most Junior & Intermediate BAs out there is (1) What sort of questions to ask the stakeholders so as to elicit the different levels/types of requirements? (2). How to ask these questions? How to ask these questions in lame terms? How to probe further for more? How detailed should the requirements be? etc,. These questioning skills may be taken for granted but this is where everything starts, QUESTIONING, & not just questioning for the sake of Questioning. Asking good and sensible questions. We all know one needs to plan & prepare for elicitation, but still the thorny issue is how to Question. Believe it or not, this skill is presumed to be inate to a lot of BAs but clearly not the ones in my network/cycles. Some of us lie awake at night, fearing the Doom Day of Elicitation. A friend mine has developed stomach ulcers because of excessive worry. One may ask, 'where are the BA mentors and coaches?'. They are busy chasing deadlines.

Does anyone out there have a good template that entails sample elicitation questions just to get some of us started please? Any advice is more than welcome. Unfortunately a lot of BAs are thrown into the deep end with limited skills, knowledge and experience BUT they are expected to perform miracles!

Your assistance would be highly appreciated in this regard.