CBAP / CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide

Introduction xiii Assessment Test xxviii Chapter 1 Foundation Concepts 1 What Is Business Analysis? 2 The Business Analyst's Role 3 Essential Skills of Effective Business Analysts 4 The Business Analyst and the Project Manager 6 Dealing with Key Stakeholders 7 Reviewing the Business Analysis Core Concept Model (BACCM(TM)) 8 Exploring the Business Analysis Knowledge Areas 9 Knowledge Area: Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring 10 Knowledge Area: Strategy Analysis 11 Knowledge Area: Requirements Life Cycle Management 11 Knowledge Area: Elicitation and Collaboration 11 Knowledge Area: Requirements Analysis and Design Definition 12 Knowledge Area: Solution Evaluation 12 How Are the Knowledge Areas Organized? 13 Exploring Requirements 14 Distinguishing Between Requirements and Design 15 Defining the Requirements Management Process 16 Classifying Requirements 16 Understanding How This Applies to Your Projects 22 Perspectives on Business Analysis 24 Summary 25 Exam Essentials 26 Key Terms 27 Review Questions 29 Chapter 2 Controlled Start: Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring 33 Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring 34 The Business Analyst's Task List 35 When Does Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring Take Place? 36 Plan the Business Analysis Approach 38 Plan Stakeholder Engagement 49 Plan Business Analysis Governance 59 Plan Business Analysis Information Management 66 Identify Business Analysis Performance Improvements 74 How This Applies to Your Projects 82 Summary 83 Exam Essentials 84 Key Terms 85 Review Questions 87 Chapter 3 Controlled Start: Strategy Analysis 91 Strategy Analysis 92 The Business Analyst's Task List 94 When Does Strategy Analysis Take Place? 95 Analyze Current State 95 Define Future State 107 Assess Risks 119 Define Change Strategy 126 How This Applies to Your Projects 136 Summary 138 Exam Essentials 139 Key Terms 139 Review Questions 141 Chapter 4 Overarching Tasks: Requirements Life Cycle Management 145 Requirements Life Cycle Management 146 The Business Analyst's Task List 148 When Does Requirements Life Cycle Management Take Place? 149 Trace Requirements 150 Maintain Requirements 156 Prioritize Requirements 160 Assess Requirements Changes 167 Approve Requirements 174 How This Applies to Your Projects 179 Summary 180 Exam Essentials 181 Key Terms 182 Review Questions 184 Chapter 5 Controlled Middle: Elicitation and Collaboration 189 Requirements Elicitation 190 The Business Analyst's Task List 192 When Does Elicitation Take Place? 193 Prepare for Elicitation 193 Conduct Elicitation 201 Confirm Elicitation Results 210 Communicate Business Analysis Information 213 Manage Stakeholder Collaboration 217 How This Applies to Your Projects 222 Summary 225 Exam Essentials 225 Key Terms 227 Review Questions 228 Chapter 6 Controlled Middle: Requirements Analysis and Design Definition 233 Requirements Analysis and Design Definition 234 The Business Analyst's Task List 236 When Does Requirements Analysis and Design Definition Take Place? 236 Specify and Model Requirements 237 Verify Requirements 256 Validate Requirements 261 Define Requirements Architecture 265 Define Design Options 272 Analyze Potential Value and Recommend Solution 278 How This Applies to Your Projects 283 Summary 284 Exam Essentials 285 Key Terms 287 Review Questions 289 Chapter 7 Controlled End: Solution Evaluation 293 Solution Evaluation 294 The Business Analyst's Task List 296 When Does Solution Evaluation Take Place? 296 Measure Solution Performance 297 Analyze Performance Measures 302 Assess Solution Limitations 308 Assess Enterprise Limitations 312 Recommend Actions to Increase Solution Value 319 How This Applies to Your Projects 324 Summary 328 Exam Essentials 328 Key Terms 329 Review Questions 331 Chapter 8 Underlying Competencies 335 Essential Skills of Effective Business Analysts 336 When Are the Underlying Competencies Used? 337 Analytical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills 338 Behavioral Characteristics 342 Business Knowledge 345 Tools and Technology 348 Communication Skills 349 Interaction Skills 352 How This Applies to Your Projects 358 Summary 360 Exam Essentials 360 Key Terms 362 Review Questions 364 Chapter 9 Five Perspectives on Business Analysis 369 The Agile Perspective 371 Change Scope 371 Business Analysis Scope 372 Approaches and Techniques 373 Underlying Competencies 376 Knowledge Area Impacts 376 The Business Intelligence Perspective 379 Change Scope 380 Business Analysis Scope 381 Approaches and Techniques 382 Underlying Competencies 384 Knowledge Area Impacts 384 The Information Technology Perspective 388 Change Scope 389 Business Analysis Scope 391 Approaches and Techniques 392 Underlying Competencies 392 Knowledge Area Impacts 393 The Business Architecture Perspective 397 Change Scope 398 Business Analysis Scope 399 Reference Models and Techniques 400 Underlying Competencies 402 Knowledge Area Impacts 402 The Business Process Management Perspective 407 Change Scope 407 Business Analysis Scope 409 Frameworks, Methodologies, and Techniques 411 Underlying Competencies 413 Knowledge Area Impacts 415 Understanding How This Applies to Your Projects 418 Summary 418 Exam Essentials 419 Key Terms 419 Review Questions 421 Appendix A Advice on Completing Your Exam Application 425 The Competency-Based Certification Model 426 CBAP(r) Experience Requirements 427 CCBA(TM) Experience Requirements 429 Calculate Your Experience Hours 430 Additional Exam Eligibility Requirements 431 The Exam Application Process 433 Appendix B Knowledge Areas, Tasks, and Elements 435 Review the Six Knowledge Areas 436 Knowledge Areas, Tasks, and Elements 437 Appendix C Mapping Techniques, Stakeholders, and Deliverables to Knowledge Areas and Tasks 443 Techniques 444 Stakeholders 455 Deliverables 459 Appendix D Summary of Business Analysis Techniques 467 Business Analysis Techniques 468 Quick Review of Techniques 468 Appendix E Summary of Business Analysis Outputs 473 Business Analysis Outputs 474 Appendix F Answers to Review Questions 479 Chapter 1: Foundation Concepts 480 Chapter 2: Controlled Start: Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring 481 Chapter 3: Controlled Start: Strategy Analysis 483 Chapter 4: Overarching Tasks: Requirements Life Cycle Management 484 Chapter 5: Controlled Middle: Elicitation and Collaboration 486 Chapter 6: Controlled Middle: Requirements Analysis and Design Definition 487 Chapter 7: Controlled End: Solution Evaluation 488 Chapter 8: Underlying Competencies 490 Chapter 9: Five Perspectives on Business Analysis 491 Index 495