the emerging certified business analysis professional

F O C U S Q U A L I T Y E X P E R I E N C E

The Emerging Certified Business Analysis Professional

Jonathan “Kupe” Kupersmith, CBAPTM, Director, Business Analysis

B2T TrainingPresident, Greater Atlanta IIBA Chapter

Agenda

Challenges BAs face The BA: A key role The Business Analyst role is being recognizedThe future of the Business AnalystThe IIBATM

Demystifying the BABOKTM

Overview of CBAPTM exam program

Exciting Time to be a BA!

Challenges BAs FaceLack of organizational understanding of their role No standard format for requirements documentation, no standard development methodologySolutions have been chosen before the analysis is completeNot enough time for requirements

A Key Role

The BA is “Requirements Communications Central:”

Business Analyst

Project Manager

Subject Matter Expert



Technical Team Member

Technical Team Member

Business Information

A Key Role

The Business Analyst has been described as an “agent of change”The BA holds a unique role:

Enterprise-wide awarenessUnderstanding of the business problem or opportunity High-level and detailed project knowledge Business Analyst toolkit

A Key RoleNow more than ever, industry emphasis on:

Scope definition and change managementRequirements elicitation and managementProcess improvement and reusabilityValidation and verificationA “do more with less” directive

The BA Role is Being Recognized

Studies continually show that poor requirements are a cause of project failureOutsourcing of development -only successful with excellent requirementsIT roles continue to specializeA lot of maintenance projectson complex, integrated systemsFocus on customer facing software (websites)Quality initiatives

Requirements Failures

66% of software projects are not expected to finish on time and on budgetCompleted projects have only 52% of proposed functionality82% of projects have time overrunsAverage cost overrun – 43% over budget

Source: 2003 Standish Chronicles

Outsource/Offshore Strategies

Obtaining goods or services by contract from an outside sourceRecent Results:

Impacts US programmer jobsIncreases focus on detailing requirements

IT Specialization

Roles continue to specialize as software development professionals become more sophisticated Historically business analysis has been performed by PMs, systems analysts, developers, business usersAs a result the BA role emerges

Complex Maintenance Projects

Most business areas have some process automation so business changes involve maintenance projects.Software applications are large and complex with many interfacesAnalyzing the impact of a change is critical

Customer Focus

72% of CIOs surveyed by CIO Magazine said their number one priority is to improve the customer relationship.

Working closely with internal business customerWorking on strategic business issuesManaging stakeholders

Quality Initiatives

Capability Maturity Model IntegrationProcess improvement approachRigorous, testable, leveled

ISO 9000International Organization for StandardizationWorldwide standards for conformity and organizational practice

Quality Initiatives

Six SigmaDeveloped by Motorola engineersIdentifies improvement points that have greatest effect on bottom line

Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)US Legislation HR 3762-2Requires strict financial and IT controls

The Future of the BA

Role/title will solidify; increased demand for certification of skills/competency Ratio of Business Analysts to Programmers will increaseIncreasing expectation of quality requirementsThe scope of the BA’s work will increase

Shift from software requirements to solution requirements

The Future of the BA Role

Only 10% of CIOs surveyed by CIO Magazine said that technical proficiency is an important skill to be successful. The most important personal skills:

Communication – 70%Understanding the Business – 58%


BA to executive managementTop IT Exec’s Most Important Personal Attributes

Leadership ability – 50%Strategic thinking – 39.9%Business understanding – 39.5%Communication skills – 31.6%

Source: 2007 CIO Insight magazine, Survey for CIOs


“Professions, by definition, rely on a body of theoretical and practical knowledge, often built up over generations. That body of shared knowledge is the foundation that allows a profession’s practitioners to confront the issues they face with a common language. By applying theory and experience, they can work together to develop new best practices as challenges arise.”

Source: ComputerWorld.comWritten by: Michael Hugos, Principal, Center for Systems

Innovation and author

The IIBA

Vision: The world's leading association for business analysis professionals

Mission: To develop and maintain standards for the practice of business analysis and for the certification of its practitioners

IIBA Goals

Create and develop awarenessand recognition of the value and contribution of the role of the business analysis professionalDefine the BABOKDefine the business analysis profession by providing certification to its membersProvide a forum for knowledgesharing

What is the BABOK?

Captures the sum of knowledge within the business analysis profession

Associated skills, activities & tasks

Reflects currently accepted practicesOwned & enhanced by the professionals who apply it

The BABOK

Enterprise Analysis

"A leader's job is to look into the future, and to see the

organization not as it is…but as it can become."

Enterprise Analysis

PurposeUnderstand the big picture

Capture the view of the business to provide contextSupport initiatives & long-term planningIncludes strategic planning, business case development, cost/benefit analysis, feasibility studies

ValueProvides a context/foundation on which to evaluate all future issues & challenges

Enterprise Analysis

InputsBusiness Strategic Plan Strategic Goals

OutputsBusiness ArchitectureFeasibility StudyBusiness OpportunityScope StatementBusiness CaseInitial Risk Assessment

Requirements Planning and Management

• Vision without action is a daydream. Action without

vision is a nightmare.

• ~Japanese Proverb


PurposeSpecify how the business analysis team will conduct its business analysis activities over the life of the project

ValueEnsures a common understanding across the requirements teamSpecifies tools, resources & contributors & ensures availabilityAllows for monitoring & addressing of requirements challengesCoordinates with other project workEnsures changes are captured correctly and consistently


InputsBusiness Environment AnalysisEnterprise Requirements ScopeFeasibility Study

OutputsProject team listProject stakeholder analysisWork Breakdown StructureCommunications ToolsProcess definition for requirements changeMetrics/governance process for requirements

Requirements Elicitation

“Seek and ye shall find!”


PurposeElicit requirements from various stakeholder groups

Identify the tasks, knowledge & techniques for capturing the requirements

ValueDefines the broad classifications of requirements (e.g., functional, usability, non-functional, constraints)Describes the various techniques used to elicit requirements, for example:


InputsList of StakeholdersEnterprise Requirements ScopeWork Breakdown Structure

OutputsRequirements

Requirements Analysis and Documentation

"Countless, unseen details are often the only

difference between mediocre and magnificent."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mona_Lisa.jpg


Purpose Analyze the data

Define the methods, tools & techniques used to structure the raw data collected during requirements gatheringIdentify gaps in the informationDefine the capabilities of the solution

ValueTransforms the business need into clearly described capabilitiesProvides the foundation for selecting the best alternative among the solution options


InputsEnterprise Requirements ScopeA bunch of requirements

OutputsRequirements Package

Requirements Communication

Think like a wise man but communicate in the

language of the people.

~ William Butler Yeats(1865 - 1939)


PurposeCommunicate the outcome

Present & communicate requirements to all stakeholders & implementers of the projectBring the group to consensus & gets approval

ValuePresents the requirements in a format & structure that is appropriate for its intended audienceBrings the various stakeholders to a common understandingFormalizes agreement


InputsRequirements packageNotes from requirements gathering sessionsProject stakeholder analysis

OutputsEnterprise requirements scope changesAmendments to requirementsOutstanding requirements issuesSignoff and/or approval of requirements or requirements package

Solution Assessment & Validation

"Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction

we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind

and sometimes against it -but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor."

- Oliver Wendell Holmes


PurposeEnsure the best solution is chosen

ValueArticulates how the business analysis professional should work with the other project team members to design and produce the solutionIdentifies the approach to evaluating alternative solutions once requirements have been formally signed off


InputsPrioritized, approved requirementsHigh level understanding of technology potential and constraintsOrganization’s RFP/RFQ standardsTechnology solutions optionsQA Standards and procedures

OutputsRFP/RFQSolution designDescription of software release / phasesEmployee procedure documentationEmployee trainingAssessment of solution usabilityHigh level requirements for next release

Fundamentals

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it

must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be

killed...every morning a lion wakes up, it knows it must

outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.

It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle...when

the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

Fundamentals

PurposeEnsure an effective business analysis resource

Defines the general competencies, skills, techniques or knowledge needed to effectively perform business analysis but are not unique to business analysis

ValueArticulates non-specific professional skills that are necessary in order for a business analysis professional to be successful in performing his/her role

Overview of CBAP Program

CBAP: Certified Business Analysis ProfessionalCBAP program designed to comply with ISO and ANSI standardsCandidate must demonstrate required knowledge and competencies of a Business Analyst as defined by IIBA in the BABOKMembership in IIBA not requiredCertification provides benefits to the individual and to the employer/client/customer

Requirements to Sit for the Exam

5 years (7500 hrs) of business analysis work experience in the last ten years Documented experience and expertise in at least four of the six knowledge areas of the BABOK A high school or equivalent education 21 hours of professional development in the last four years directly related to business analysis or the underlying fundamentals Two professional references

Certification Process

Submit to IIBA Certification Manager at least two months prior to exam:

Completed CBAP application formTwo completed sealed recommendationsSigned CBAP code of conduct agreementCBAP exam special accommodation form if neededApplication fee - $450 for IIBA members, $575 for non-members


If approved:Receive eligibility letter indicating date and location of the examNotify IIBA to rescheduleRequired to sit within one year of approval

If not approved:IIBA will inform of reason and return application fee less administrative fee of $125 May re-apply in three months after remedying reasons for rejection


Candidates who pass will be notified and may use CBAP designation.Candidates who fail may re-take once within the one-year period after waiting at least three months

Fee to re-take is $250 for IIBA members and $375 for non-membersAfter one year, you must re-apply

Candidates whose applications are audited must provide validation documentation as requested by IIBA

Upcoming Exam Schedule

Exam DateLondon, UK – ppd Fall 2007Atlanta, GA – June 19, 2007Minn., MN – June 26, 2007Houston, TX – June 28, 2007Sydney, Aus – Aug. 07, 2007Melbourne, Aus –Aug. 08, 2007Boston, MA – November 1, 2007Vancouver, BC – November 8, 2007Chicago, IL – November 13, 2007San Francisco CA – Oct. 18, 2007

Application DeadlineTBDApril 30, 2007May 7, 2007May 7, 2007June 15, 2007June 15, 2007Sept. 7, 2007Sept. 17, 2007Sept. 21, 2007August 27, 2007

CBAP Application

Personal Information: Name, contact info, IIBA member data Company Information: Name, size and primary business activity Work Experience:

project dates and descriptioncontact information of someone who can verify the project and your workorganizational infototal hours on the project,description of your business analysis activities (tasks and deliverables)

CBAP Application

Knowledge area expertise: Complete a task survey related for 4 of the 6 knowledge areas and underlying fundamentals covered in the BABOK Education history Professional development: Information related to training meeting the necessary 21 hours of professional development

CBAP Exam Format

150 QuestionsQuestions created follow Bloom’s TaxonomyAll questions are multiple choice with one correct answerThe exam is based on Version 1.6 of the BABOKYou are given 3.5 hours to take the exam

CBAP Exam Format

KNOWLEDGE AREA PERCENTAGE of QUESTIONS

Introduction and Enterprise Analysis 22.0Requirements Planning & Management 22.7Requirements Elicitation 18.7Requirements Analysis & Documentation 20.7Requirements Communications 10.7Solution Assessment & Validation 5.3Fundamentals Incorporated into the

other knowledge areas

CBAP Exam Prep

Read the BABOKStart a study groupTake a BA training courseBe prepared to draw from your experienceA large part of the certification is your applicationGet a good night’s rest

Conclusion

The future looks great for Business AnalystsGet involved in the IIBA to help promote the roleGet involved in the IIBA to help promote your careerIt is up to us

The better we understand and perform, the profession will gain credibility

About B2T Training

We offer a systematic approach to learning how to perform as a BA

Great mix of lecture discussion and hands on exercisesOur focus is training BA’sAll of our instructors are practicing BAsOur small class sizes allow for in-depth discussion and personal attentionWe offer an application-based certification

About B2T Training

Course offeringsEssential Skills for the Business AnalystDetailing Business Data RequirementsDetailing Process and Business Rule RequirementsFacilitating Requirements for Business AnalystsRequirements ValidationAdvanced Business Analysis TechniquesIIBA CBAP Prep Study Guide – Coming in July

For more info got to www.b2ttraining.com

http://www.b2ttraining.com/

the emerging certified business analysis professional

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