Mastering Business Analysis Standard Practices

• Presents a structured step-by-step process for performing business analysis that any new or experienced practitioner could follow, rather than having to piece the process together themselves
• Addresses stakeholder identification and thoroughly examines stakeholder analysis and management to ensure a deep understanding before planning or engaging stakeholder involvement
• Discusses how to perform situational needs analysis and prepare situational justification for decision makers within the business context
• Demonstrates how to plan the business analysis work effort and develop and execute communication and information management plans
• Shows how to set up a project for success with a clear and concise scope definition boundary, maintain agreement on scope, and control scope in an ever-changing environment
• Provides detailed guidance on developing solution requirements and design definition for building the solution to meet stakeholder needs
• Details the business analysis practitioner’s role as the solution is being built; throughout the solution’s existence; and after to ensure proper value is achieved
• Defines BA and project management collaboration opportunities that lead to successful solution results
• Covers business analysis terminology, roles and responsibilities, perspectives, competencies, and the expanded multi-level career path of a business analyst
• WAV offers downloadable Business Analysis Referenced Templates—available from the Web Added Value Download Resource Center at www.jrosspub.com/wav

Kelley Bruns, CBAP^®, CSM, PMI-ACP^®, PMI-PBA^®, PMP^®, ICP, ICP-APM, ICP-BVA

Kelley Bruns, President of Bruns Consulting, LLC, is a veteran corporate trainer, mentor, training manager, course developer, and author with more than 25 years of experience helping enterprise project teams solve problems. She is a former Vice President of BA Training at ASPE and a leading expert in business analysis and various approaches to project management and product development.  She holds a Master’s degree in Adult Education with a concentration in Training and Development from Drake University.  Ms. Bruns was actively involved in the IIBA Enhanced Certification Redesign and the Endorsed Education Provider Advisory Group.

Kelley is a Project Management Institute certified Project Management Professional (PMP^®), Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA^®), and Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP^®).  She is also a Scrum Alliance accredited Certified Scrum Master (CSM), and International Consortium for Agile accredited ICP, ICP-BVA, and ICP-APM. Kelley has dedicated her career to helping people transfer knowledge and develop skills and abilities in both professional and personal settings to provide a strong return on investment. She is uniquely talented at helping others learn best practices without having to learn the hard way.

Billie Johnson, CBAP^®, PMI-PBA^®, CSM, IIBA-EEP

Billie Johnson, an independent trainer and consultant, is a leading business analysis expert and practicing professional who has been involved in establishing business analysis direction, processes, and modeling for almost 30 years—spanning the financial, manufacturing, consulting, education, government, retail, and mining industries. She was an early adopter of the IIBA^® Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP^®) certification, receiving her CBAP^® in May 2007; as well as the PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA^®) certification achieved as soon as it was offered in July 2014.  She is also a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) accredited by the Scrum Alliance.

Billie was a reviewer team lead for the IIBA BABOK Guide^® Version 3.0. She periodically speaks at IIBA and PMI events and other professional conferences.  For the last ten years, she has been teaching and consulting with large organizations and Fortune 500 companies. As a business analysis instructor, course developer, author, coach, and mentor, she enjoys furthering the field of business analysis by giving practitioners the tools to face head on their unique problems and opportunities.

Chapter 1 – Introduction

What is Business Analysis?

Who does Business Analysis?

What Qualities do Business Analysts Possess?

What Are the Business Analyst Organizational Structures?

BA Career Progression

Business Analysis Competencies

Business Analysis Perspectives

Key Business Analysis Terms/Concepts/Definitions

Business Analysis Center of Excellence and Business Analysis Community of Practice

Hone your Business Analysis Information Elaboration Techniques

Business Analysis Journey Map

Summary of Key Points

Bibliography

Chapter 2 – Step 1: Understand Your Stakeholders

Five Perspectives Table Showing Stakeholder Understanding

Types of Stakeholders

Understand Your Stakeholders’ Motivations

Trust – It’s the game changer

Ongoing Stakeholder Analysis

Techniques

Summary of Key Points

Bibliography

Chapter 3 – Step 2: Understand the Business Context

Five Perspectives Table Showing Business Context

Understand the Enterprise Architectural Direction

Enterprise Architecture Components

Understand the Organization’s Business Drivers

Frequently Identified Business Drivers

Understand the Business Case

Techniques

Summary of Key Points

Bibliography

Chapter 4 – Step 3: Plan the Business Analysis Work

Five Perspectives Table Showing Planning Business Analysis Work

Iterative Nature of Elicitation, Collaboration and Analysis

Where to Begin Planning

Plan the Business Analysis Work Activities

Justify the Business Analysis Effort

Business Analysis Assessment

Techniques

Summary of Key Points

Bibliography

Chapter 5 – Step 4: Set Initiative Scope

Five Perspectives Table Showing Initiative Scope Setting

What is Scope?

Focus on “Why” First Before “What”

Develop Success Measures

Now What? – “Chunkify” the Initiative

Solution Stakeholder Impact and Scope Definition

Gain Consensus on Scope Definition

Techniques

Summary of Key Points

Bibliography

Chapter 6 – Step 5: Develop Solution Requirements and Design Definition

Five Perspectives Table Showing Solution Requirements Development and Design Definition

Decompose Scope Definition to Effective Solution Requirements

Decompose Solution Requirements to Effective Design Definition

Doneness?  How Do I Know When I’m Done?

Techniques

Summary of Key Points

Bibliography

Chapter 7 – Step 6: Scope Management

Five Perspectives Table Showing Scope Management

Verify Requirements

Validate Requirements

Recommend Solution(s)

Monitor Requirements and Design Definition

Scope Change

Techniques

Summary of Key Points

Bibliography

Chapter 8 – Step 7: Evaluate the Solution

Five Perspectives Table Showing Solution Evaluation

Evaluate Proposed Solutions

Recommend Actions to Increase Solution Value

Support Implementation SMEs

Support Testers

Assess Organizational Readiness

Develop Transition Requirements

Measure Solution Success

Techniques

Summary of Key Points

Bibliography

Glossary

Index

“The real-life examples alone set this business analysis book apart from the others because you can see what really works in a variety of scenarios. It underscores the concept that not every tool is applicable to every effort and offers guidance for selecting the right tools for the right situation. This reference is not only relevant to BA generalists, but also for specialists or those considering specializing in a business analysis perspective. This is the first BA-related publication I’ve seen that offers that.”

—Colleen Meesey, CBAP, Product Manager, International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)

"Mastery of business analysis skills is more important than ever. Bruns and Johnson have authored an invaluable guide for those who want a practical, actionable understanding of how to improve project success through business analysis practices. This should be required reading for all business analysts!"

—Andy Kaufman, PMP, Speaker, Author, Executive Coach, Institute for Leadership Excellence & Development Inc.

“The authors’ insight, experience, and anecdotal humor into the practical application of business analysis is a much-needed literary contribution to a fast-emerging BA profession that requires communication, critical thinking, and a dash of collaborative genius."

—Todd Britton, CBAP, CSM, Director of Program Management Office, NY State Office of State Comptroller