CBAP / CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide

The CBAP/CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide, Second Edition offers 100% coverage of all exam objectives for the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) and Certification of Competency in Business Analysis (CCBA) exams offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). Detailed coverage encompasses all six knowledge areas defined by the Guide to Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK): Planning and Monitoring, Elicitation, Requirements Management and Communication, Enterprise Analysis, Requirements Analysis, and Solution Assessment and Validation, including expert guidance toward all underlying competencies. Real-world scenarios help you align your existing experience with the BABOK, and topic summaries, tips and tricks, practice questions, and objective-mapping give you a solid framework for success on the exam. You also gain access to the Sybex interactive learning environment, featuring review questions, electronic flashcards, and four practice exams to help you gauge your understanding and be fully prepared exam day.

As more and more organizations seek to streamline production models, the demand for qualified Business Analysts is growing. This guide provides a personalized study program to help you take your place among those certified in essential business analysis skills.

• Review the BABOK standards and best practices
• Master the core Business Analysis competencies
• Test your preparedness with focused review questions
• Access CBAP and CCBA practice exams, study tools, and more

As the liaison between the customer and the technical team, the Business Analyst is integral to ensuring that the solution satisfies the customer's needs. The BABOK standards codify best practices for this essential role, and the CBAP and CCBA certifications prove your ability to perform them effectively. The CBAP/CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide, Second Edition provides thorough preparation customizable to your needs, to help you maximize your study time and ensure your success.

Susan Weese, CBAP, PgMP, PMP, founded Rhyming Planet Inc., an IT project management/business analysis consulting firm. She has more than 25 years of software and project management experience, and currently designs, builds and delivers standard and customized project, process, and requirements development training courses.
Terri Wagner, MA, PMP, CSM, is an owner and managing member of Mentor Source, Inc., a project management consulting and training company. She is coauthor and technical editor for several project management and business analysis books including Project Manager Street Smarts, published by Sybex.

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^™) 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

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