Qualititative inorganic analysis

Why is it that a specific order is followed while performing qualitative inorganic analysis? I mean, why are we told to first test for the anion in the given salt (and there is an order to be followed for which anion to test for first, which second and so on) and then for the cation? 


Does it really matter which way we do it?
How does it affect the analysis if we don't follow the order of cations/anions?


