Traps to avoid - needing too much data

One of the easiest traps to fall into is to build a system which works perfectly, is easy to use, produces fantastically useful reports ... if someone maintains it by typing in data.

Over and over again Wise Owl have been asked to write systems requiring large volumes of data input, and have been told that 'a temp will input the data'. This rarely happens, and so the system falls into disuse.

The answer? Don't add any more input fields that you absolutely need, and remember that your system will only produce useful reports if some poor person inputs useful data!