How to Plan and Monitor Business Analysis Activities

Business analysis is one of the most critical aspects of any information technology project. Without the right requirements, you cannot deliver the right solution. Unfortunately, analysis is by its nature a process of discovery, meaning you cannot know what you will find until you find it. This uncertainty makes the business analysis activity particularly challenging to plan and manage. As a result, planning and managing the Business Analysis part of a project is its own Knowledge Area within the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge^® (BABOK^® v2.0).

Basically, defining the business requirements is a sub-project within the project to deliver the solution. This course presents minimalist project management techniques that can help you plan and monitor the seemingly chaotic process of business analysis. At the same time, these techniques are fully compatible with methods for managing any size project.

IIBA^®, the IIBA^® logo, BABOK^® and Business Analysis Body of Knowledge^® are registered trademarks owned by International Institute of Business Analysis. These trademarks are used with the express permission of International Institute of Business Analysis.

1. Introduction to Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring

Goals of This Module

Planning and Monitoring Business Analysis Activities

Key Concepts in this Course

Business Analysis Planning

Monitoring Business Analysis Activities

Logistics

Your priorities for this course

2. BABOK Knowledge Area 2

Goals of This Module

KA2 Plan and Monitor Business Analysis Activities

3. Planning the Business Analysis Approach

Goals of This Module

Dealing with Requirements-Based Risks

What is Risk?

Uncertainty

Impact

It’s Not Always Negative

How to Describe a Risk

… For Project-Oriented Jobs

… For Plan-Driven Projects

… For Change-Driven Projects

You Can’t Fix Everything

Exercise: Requirements Risks

Exercise: Risk Planning

Finding the Right Approach

Business Analysis Approach

Project Management Plans

Inputs to Determining the Business Analysis Approach

Spectrum of Project Life Cycles

Discussion: Plan driven or change driven?

Timing of BA Work

Formality of BA Deliverables

Level of Detail

Requirements Prioritization

Change Management

Interaction with Stakeholders

Requirements Management

Exercise: Plan the Business Analysis Approach

4. Stakeholder Analysis

Goals of This Module

Understanding and Preparing Stakeholders

A Stakeholder Is….

Identify Stakeholders

Using an Org chart

Exercise: Stakeholder Identification

Stakeholder List

Discussion: Who Are the Stakeholders?

Stakeholder Map: Show Communication Links

Stakeholder Analysis: Needs and Expectations

Stakeholder Analysis: Influence and Attitude

Force Field Analysis

Stakeholder Analysis: Complexity

Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities

Exercise: Conduct a Stakeholder Analysis

Informal Stakeholder Analysis

Project Scope

5. Planning Business Analysis Activities

Goals of This Module

Getting Down to Business Analysis Activities

Example Work Breakdown Structure

Activities

Discussion: WBS for your Deliverables

Discussion: Identify Activities

Discussion: Decompose Activities

Discussion: Plan when the Activities Will Occur

Discussion: Plan when the Activities Will Occur

Exercise: Plan the Business Analysis Activities

6. Creating a Communications Plan

Goals of This Module

Dealing with Project Communications

Discussion: Typical Communication Activities

Nature of Communication

Example Communications Plan

Exercise: Develop a Communication Plan

7. Developing a Requirements Management Plan

Goals of This Module

Preparing for Requirements Management

What is in a Requirements Management Plan

Key Aspects of Requirements Management

Where Does the Requirements Management Plan Fit?

Requirements Repository

Discussion: Requirements Repository

Traceability to Preserve a Team’s Collective Memory

Benefits of Requirements Traceability

Benefits of Requirements Traceability

Challenges of Requirements Traceability

Requirements Lineage

Requirements Attributes

Requirements Metrics

Discussion: Your Experiences with Traceability?

Requirements Re-use

Requirements Prioritization

Change Management

Exercise: Components of a Requirements Management Plan

8. Monitoring Business Analysis Activities

Goals of This Module

Business Analysis Performance Metrics

Concepts in This Module

Metrics, Measurements and Baselines

Business Analysis Performance Measurement

Business Analysis Performance Measurements

To Implement a Measurement Program

What Do You Want to Measure and Why?

State Your Goals

Define Measurements to Compare to the Goals

Determine How to Collect and Store the Data

Feedback

Root Cause Analysis using a Fishbone Diagram

Risks

Exercise: Root Cause Analysis

9. Wrapup and Closure

Course Closing

Discussion: Course Review

Exercise: Lessons Learned

• Defend the need for planning and monitoring business analysis activities
• Recognize and prepare for risks related to business analysis activities
• Distinguish between change-driven and plan-driven initiatives
• Select the best fit business analysis approach based on project and organizational parameters
• Use Onion Diagrams and RACI matricis to facilitate stakeholder interactions
• Plan business analysis activities based on project variables
• Plan stakeholder interaction based on individual stakeholder characteristics
• Pave the way for low-effort requirements management throughout the project
• Use quantifiable metrics to monitor business analyst performance

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