The Role of the Business Analyst

• Overview of business analysis
• Key roles and responsibilities
• Business analysis vs. project management: analysing similarities and distinctions

The Business Analysis Framework

Clarifying core concepts

• Positioning business analysis within the overall project life cycle
• Distinguishing among business, user and system level needs

Choosing a business analysis approach

• IIBA^®-defined Knowledge Areas
• Recommended baseline framework for conducting business analysis activities

Analysing the Business Landscape

Diagnosing the business environment

• Capturing business needs and/or opportunities across the enterprise
• Categorising and prioritising issues using Affinity Diagrams
• Exposing root causes of problems
• Identifying action-oriented business initiatives that address the root problem

Evaluating and selecting an initiative

• Conducting feasibility studies
• Employing analysis techniques to assess alternatives
• 2x2 analysis grid
• Prioritisation matrices
• Paired comparison analysis

Modelling the future vision

• Describing the future state using workflow diagrams
• Considering incremental improvement vs. business transformation

Defining the Project

Documenting critical project parameters

• Building SMART project objectives
• Specifying critical project elements and deliverables

Preparing the business case

• Structuring the business case
• Identifying quantitative and qualitative project benefits and costs

Planning the Requirements Development Process

Assessing stakeholder roles and responsibilities

• Identifying internal and external stakeholders
• Conducting stakeholder analysis

Determining project approach and key assumptions

• Documenting guiding principles, ground rules and templates
• Producing a requirements development plan to guide and manage the process

Developing and Delivering the Detailed Requirements Package

Incorporating the 5-step model

• Eliciting stakeholder wants and needs
• Analysing stated requirements
• Specifying the requirements document
• Validating the requirements document with key stakeholders
• Managing the change control process

Applying requirements development best practices and standards

• Addressing common challenges typically encountered during requirements development
• Recognising existing industry standards

Communicating effectively to relevant stakeholders

• Engaging the development community
• Selling the message for optimal acceptance

Supporting Downstream Development

• Tailoring the business analyst role throughout the project life cycle
• Adapting the framework to real-world scenarios