Introduction to Modelling for Business Analysis

What is this course about?

This course provides the knowledge and skills a business analyst needs to effectively communicate business models to relevant stakeholders. Business analysts must have the capability to investigate complexity and detail in a large organisation. They must elicit, analyse, document and communicate information to all interested parties. This course offers a core set of modelling techniques, enabling you to fulfill your crucial role as a business analyst.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is valuable for anyone engaged in a project that requires a comprehensive and detailed understanding of business processes and structure. Those who will benefit from this course include business, systems, data and financial analysts; project managers; and anyone involved in business process re-engineering, simplification or improvement.

What background do I need?

While a background in business analysis is not required, you should have an understanding of current business concerns. Knowledge of the challenges involved in matching IT solutions to business problems is helpful.

Do I need an IT or technology background to benefit from this course?

No. However, if you have knowledge of technology concerns in the wider business environment, this course will be particularly helpful for you, as it provides a new perspective of the entire business landscape.

What is the benefit of modelling for business analysis?

Through modelling, you gain knowledge of complex business functions and the skills to communicate that understanding at an appropriate level of detail to your audience. Modelling may be necessary when an organisation is in the process of rationalising business processes or when an organisation is involved in mergers and acquisitions. This may even be necessary if the organisation needs to get a better understanding of what it actually does. Modelling may be particularly helpful when an organisation is considering a significant investment in a new IT system.

What kind of process is involved in business modelling?

These steps are typically followed in business modelling:

• Elicit business rules from stakeholders and source documents
• Represent your understanding in the appropriate model format, including text and diagrams
• Communicate and present that understanding to key stakeholders
• Iterate these steps to assess the validity of your model

What templates and practical skills are offered in this course?

You use proven diagrams, matrices, checklists and standardised modelling techniques to gain an understanding of business complexity.

Are the industry standards UML and BPMN used in this course?

Yes. Unified Modelling Language (UML) and Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) are used in this course. These internationally recognised standards provide the necessary bridge between business analysis and systems analysis as required for IT development.

How is this course structured?

This course is structured around a dynamic style of learning created by Learning Tree called RealityPlus^TM--an immersive experience that engages you in authentic tasks within a simulated real-world context. Through an extensive case study, team workshops and computer-based activities, you are immersed throughout the course in an evolving scenario where the decisions you make affect the outcome of the simulation. The RealityPlus learning method is presented in a safe environment where you gain new skills and practise the most effective techniques to bring back to your job. At the end of your course, you are prepared to immediately and successfully apply these new skills within your organisation.

How much time is spent on each topic?

How much time in this course is devoted to activities?

Approximately 60 percent of class time is spent in activities. By the end of the course, you will have produced a detailed business model of an organisation, highlighting areas where improvement is required and also pinpointing features that could benefit from IT or software support. Team- and computer-based activities include:

• Organising a requirements workshop
• Highlighting inconsistencies between business rules and a decision table
• Creating and refining a use case diagram
• Applying a CASE tool to refine a process diagram
• Combining activities, gateways and swimlanes
• Completing a business process model
• Revising a business object model
• Defining business glossary entries
• Finding inconsistencies and omissions using matrices
• Specifying a business interface
• Communicating the final results to the key stakeholders

I am interested in translating my business model into an IT requirements document. Will this course help me?

Yes. This course identifies detailed business structures and procedures that can be converted into IT requirements documentation. This course also provides Table of Contents templates for the following documents:

• Strategic Business Plan
• Enterprise Architecture
• Business Case
• IT User Requirements

Which software tools are used in this course?

In this course, you use a recognised CASE tool, such as Enterprise Architect. However, all techniques can be practised using pencil and paper.

How is this course different from Course 211, Introduction to Business Analysis: Defining Successful Projects?

Course 211, Introduction to Business Analysis: Defining Successful Projects, is a precursor to this course. While not a prerequisite for this course, the knowledge gained in Course 211 provides the context in which you apply these modelling skills for business analysis.

I already took Course 381, Business Process Re-engineering for Competitive Advantage. How is this course different?

Course 381 covers the critical skills to implement business process re-engineering in your organisation. Modelling is covered in Course 381, but at an overview level. Course 447, however, takes you to the next step. You focus on modelling techniques rather than examining their application in the wider business environment. This course is complementary to Course 381, providing further insight into modelling aspects required for process re-engineering, simplification and improvement.

Is this course endorsed by the IIBA^®?

Yes. Learning Tree is an Endorsed Education Provider (EEP^TM) by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA^®). This course has been approved by the IIBA^® as supporting core concepts and knowledge outlined by IIBA^®'s Business Analysis Body of Knowledge^® (BABOK^®). Completion of this course counts as 23 continuing development units (CDUs) that will assist you in qualifying for or maintaining the Certified Business Analysis Professional^TM (CBAP^®) certification. For more information about CDUs and how to register them with the IIBA^®, please see the Learning Tree IIBA^® EEP^TM Q&A or http://www.theiiba.org.

The IIBA^®, an independent, nonprofit professional association for business analysts, created the BABOK^®, which is a collection of knowledge for professional business analysts. The BABOK^® reflects generally accepted practices and describes business analysis areas of knowledge, their associated activities and tasks, and the skills necessary to be effective in their execution.

Is this course applicable toward a Project Management Institute (PMI) certification?

Yes. Though this course is not designed as preparation for an exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward, or maintaining, a PMI certification. Most PMI certifications require a specific number of PDUs in order to obtain and maintain the credential. Completion of this course provides 23 professional development units (PDUs).

Learning Tree offers several courses that help you prepare for PMI certifications, including Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam, which prepares you for PMI's most popular certification. For more details on these courses and PMI certifications, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

The following courses may be of interest to you:

• 211, Introduction to Business Analysis: Defining Successful Projects 
• 381, Business Process Re-engineering for Competitive Advantage 
• 218, User and System Requirements for Successful Software Development 
• 212, Building an Effective Business Case 
• 912, Creating a High-Impact Work Plan for Business Analysts 
• 315, Developing User Requirements: The Key to Project Success 
• 905, Facilitation Skills 
• 319, Technical Writing: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction 
• 292, Communication Skills: Results through Collaboration 
• 284, Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving 

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