Business Analysis Foundations      

Code:

 IS130-050

Series:

 Information Management

Duration:

 2 days
Introduction to Business Analysis
Roles & Responsibilities of a Business Analyst
Skills required by Business Analysts
Business Analysis Projects
Project Deliverables
A Systems Engineering perspective
What is a System?
Types of System
Traditional Hierarchical View of Systems
Systems & the Contemporary Business Environment
Viewing Systems as Independent & Overlapping

Business Analysis Process Model
Investigate the Situation
Consider Perspectives
Analyse Needs
Evaluate Options
Define Requirements

Understanding Business Strategy
Value Chain Analysis
Competitive Analysis
Environmental Scanning
SWOT Analysis

Analysing Stakeholders
Stakeholder Categories
Identifying Stakeholders
Analysing Stakeholders
Strategies for Managing Stakeholders

Investigating Business Systems
The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM)
"Rich Pictures"
Mind-mapping the System Context
Investigating Stakeholder Perspectives
Mapping Stakeholder Perspectives
CATWOE Analysis

Modelling Business Processes
 Business Process Concepts
Definition of a Business Process
A Model of Human Activity
UML Activity Diagrams
Representing Activities
Showing Activity Sequence
Decomposing Activities
Showing Parallel Activities
Modelling Decisions
Modelling Workflow
Representing Actors with Swim Lanes
Representing Flow of Information
Representing Flow of Physical Objects
Modelling Business Processes
Modelling Logical Workflows
Modelling the Current (as is) Workflow
Modelling the Future (to be) Workflow
Representing Activity Breakdowns with UML Diagrams
Representing Activity Breakdowns with Mind Maps
The Role of Business Process Reference Models

Identifying Business Needs
Solving Problems
Exploiting Opportunities
Avoiding Threats
Brainstorming Business Needs
Identifying Internal Weaknesses
Identifying External Threats
Investigating the "Root Cause" of Problems
Describing Business Needs

Documenting Software Requirements
Software Requirements
Interface Requirements
Functional Requirements
Non-functional Requirements
Quality Attributes
Constraints
Storage Requirements
Use Cases
Use Case Concepts
UML Use Case Diagrams
Naming Use Cases
The importance of a Glossary
Use Case Steps
The subject..verb..object Template
Use Case scenarios
Interface Requirements
Data Dictionaries
The Role of Prototypes
Use Cases & Business Processes
Documenting "to be" Workflows
UML Activity Diagrams
UML Sequence Diagrams
Use Case Templates
Levels of Use Case description
Use Case narrative

Business Analysis Foundations


This course adopts a "systems" perspective of business analysis. It covers materials required for the Information Systems Examination Board (ISEB) and International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) certification exams. The course structure and content are based on the ISEB business analysis process model.

Business Analysis Foundations is suitable for anyone acting (or planning to act) in the role of Business Analyst, Business Systems Analyst, Systems Analyst, Functional Analyst or Business Consultant. It is also suitable for other IT professionals who need to understand what Business Analysts do and don't do. It is also relevant for experienced Business Analysts who need to update their skills, attend a "refresher" or simply get some new ideas.

After completing this course, students will be able to:

  • demonstrate a clear understanding of the role of a business analyst and the essential tasks they perform throughout the information systems life cycle.
  • apply the essential knowledge and skills required to identify business needs; evaluate and justify alternative solutions; specify solution requirements; define solution acceptance criteria; and participate in the roll out of the solution.
  • understand how to better align IT with business needs and ensure that It delivers business benefits.
  • appreciate and acknowledge the importance of the link between solution requirements and acceptance testing.

Prerequisites:


Familiarity with business environments and business information systems.