Business Analyst

Summary:

This course is structured around a series of activities in which you gain practical modeling experience. In the context of a real-world case study, you apply best practices in business requirement gathering, documentation and stakeholder

management to help you fulfill your crucial role as a business analyst.

Course Specifics:

1. Introduction to Business Analysis

Importance of Effective Business Analysis
Role of the BA
Standardization and Adaptability

2. Requirements Planning

Role of the BA in Requirements Planning
Vision and Scope Document
Types of Requirements
Stakeholders
Business Analysis Plan
Homework

3. Requirements Elicitation

Role of the BA in Requirements Elicitation
- Investigative approach
- Iterative approach
Techniques
- Interviews
- Focus groups
- Requirements workshop: Requirements meeting.
- Requirements workshop: JAD session
- Brainstorming
- Observation
- Survey
- Prototype
- Document analysis
- Business rules analysis
- Reverse engineering
- Product trials
- Labs
Group Project

4. Requirements Analysis & Design

Need for Analysis
Using Analysis to get Stakeholder Feedback and Verify and Validate Developing Requirements
Value of Modeling Techniques in Analysis
Modeling Techniques
- Organizational model
- Location model
- Process/flow models
- Use case models.
- Data models
- State model
Types of Requirements
Business Rules Analysis
Prioritizing Requirements
Verifying and Validating Requirements
Group Project

5. Requirements Documentation (BRD)

Formal and Informal Documentation and the, Level of Detail Required
Writing for Usability and Comprehension
Common Requirements Document Defects
Components of a Formal Requirements Document
Requirements Verification and Validation
Requirements Sign-Off
UML (Unified Modeling Language) - Labs
Group Project

6. Requirements Management and Communication

Throughout the Project and to Decommission
Change Management
- Define a baseline.
- Define a change management process.
- Identify the Change Authority
Traceability and Its Uses
Requirements Attributes
Requirements Communication
Group Discussion
Case Study
Group Project

7. Business Strategy Management

Strategy Definition
Why do Companies need Strategy?
Strategy Formation
LAB: SWOT Analysis
Five Force Analysis
How to define good Strategy?
Strategy Execution
Strategy Validation
Strategy Implementation Challenge
Case Studies: Amazon, Apple, and Google
Homework
Group Project

8. Enterprise Analysis

Definition and Causes
Role of the BA on the Enterprise Analysis Team
Steps in Enterprise AnalysisDefine the business need.
Techniques for root cause analysis
Assess capability gaps.
SWOT analysis
Determine the solution approach.
Define the solution scope.
Define the business case.
Contents of business case
Who does what? the BA's limited role in developing a business case?

9. Management Competencies, Best Practices, and Life Cycle Models

Competency Proficiency
Project Management
Sope / Schedule / Cost Management
BA Necessary Competencies
Analytical thinking and problem solving
Behavioral characteristics
Business knowledge
Communication skills
Interaction skills
Software application knowledge
Best Practices
Use iterative analysis.
Focus on process improvement.
Apply progressive elaboration.
Check as you go.
Use the investigative approach.
Adopt traceability.
Formalize business analysis through standardization.
Improve communication through modeling.
Life Cycle Models
Waterfall
Incremental
Agile Scrum Project Management
Effects on business analysis

10. BA Leadership skills

Communication Skills
Leadership Skills
Critical Thinking Skills
Business Knowledge
IT Knowledge

11. Capstone Project

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