Description
Book SynopsisThe bestselling CBAP/CCBA study guide, updated for exam v3.
Table of ContentsIntroduction 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™) 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® Experience Requirements 427
CCBA™ 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
