Foundations of Business Analysis (formerly Introduction to Business Analysis) Understand the vital role of the business analyst throughout all the phases of a project Course information Duration: 3 days PDUs: 22.5 Course Fee: £1495 excl. VAT €1795 excl. VAT Related links     Ask a question about this course     Download description Take a Pre- and Post-course assessment Select a Public Classroom Course Aligning Project Management with Organisational Strategy Business Process Analysis, Innovation and Design Coaching and Mentoring for Improved Performance Contract Management Principles and Practices Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Establishing the Project Management Office Facilitation Techniques for Requirements Development Financial Management for Project and Contract Managers Foundations of Business Analysis How to Gather and Document User Requirements Introduction to Business Analysis Leading Complex Projects Leading Project Managers Logical Data Modelling Managing Global Projects Managing Information Technology Projects Managing Projects Negotiation Skills PgMP® Exam Preparation PMP® Exam Preparation PMP® Power Exam Preparation Process Modelling Management Programme Management Project Leadership, Management and Communications Quality for Project Managers Rapid Assessment and Recovery of Troubled Projects Requirements Management: A Key to Project Success Risk Management Scheduling and Cost Control Simulation: Project Management Applications Systems Integration Project Management Taking Charge of Organisational Change Testing Techniques for Tracing and Validating Requirements Use Case Modelling Writing Statements of Work: The Heart of Any Contract     Register for a course by clicking a date below Central London 18-20 Mar 09 29 Jun-1 Jul 09 12-14 Aug 09 30 Sep-2 Oct 09 18-20 Nov 09 This course is also available in e-Training format.

You will learn how to:

• Define the role of a business analyst throughout the project phase
• Explain the range of tasks that a business analyst will perform
• Apply principles of quality management and testing
• Explain the importance of requirements definition
• Assess the value of case analysis and design in your work
• Explain how business processes, workflow and data modelling techniques can facilitate improved communication

Course Synopsis

The business analyst’s role is pivotal in defining the requirements of a project at its earliest stages, as well as in planning, defining and validating the project scope. It is important to have an understanding of the breadth of knowledge that a business analyst brings to bear in developing business solutions.

This introductory course is designed for those new to the business analyst role and those who supervise or work with business analysts. This course will provide a basic understanding of the benefits, functions and the huge impact that business analysis can have. Gain understanding and experience of the ways in which a business analyst should and can support a project, from establishing its scope in the analysis phase to ensuring that requirements have been met in the testing phase.

After completing this 3-day course, you will recognise why and when to involve the business analysis function and you will have a working vocabulary that will enable you to communicate effectively with those who perform that function.

Reminder: The material presented in this course provides great foundation level knowledge. If you plan to take additional courses in the ‘Business Analysis Programme’, this course gives you a great starting point from which to develop.

Course Topics

1. What is Business Analysis?
   1. IT business analysis
   2. Business process improvement
   3. Challenges of gathering and analysing requirements
   4. History and current trends in business analysis
   5. Role of the business analyst through the project life cycle
2. Defining the Business Problem
   1. Techniques to determine the underlying business problems
   2. Understanding the business environment at a high-level
   3. Relating business problems and processes
3. Root Causes of Problems
   1. Business problems and root causes
   2. Applying modeling to understand root causes (the AS-IS state)
4. Solution Vision and Scope
   1. Vision and envisioning
   2. The key players in setting the vision
   3. How to determine the product scope
   4. Quantifying process improvement goals
5. Making the Business Case
   1. How the business analyst adds insight to business cases
   2. Estimating the benefits associated with the product
6. Modelling the Future State
   1. Models and modelling
   2. Relating models to requirements
   3. Modelling the information requirements (data modelling)
   4. Modelling the TO-BE state (process and workflow modelling)
7. Getting Requirements from Models
   1. The value of Use Cases
   2. Use Case analysis
   3. Unified Modelling Language (UML) and object-oriented analysis
8. Requirements Definition and Documentation
   1. SMART requirements
   2. Identifying the boundary between requirements and specifications
   3. Managing changes to the requirements
9. Quality Assurance and Testing
   1. The business analyst's role in testing
   2. Quality assurance activities: checking and testing
   3. Introduction to test strategies and plans

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