Course Description

This training course on Business Analysis Practice introduces you to all the essential business analysis skills. The emphasis throughout is on practical learning, using real-life case studies to introduce key skills, including strategic analysis, stakeholder management, business activity modelling, gap analysis, and making a business case.

During this three-day course, you’ll receive all the training you need to prepare for the BCS Business Analysis Practice certificate examination. A pass means you’re another step closer to achieving your BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis—the de facto certification for practicing business analysts. This course is also a specialist option for the BCS International Diploma in Solution Development. This course is also approved as consistent with the IIBA BABoK version 3.0 and enables participants to develop SFIA skills BUAN and REQM.

Target audience

Business analysts, project managers, product owners, service designers, business change managers, and anyone who requires a thorough understanding of strategic business analysis. Business Analysis Practice is a core module for the BCS (ISEB) International Diploma in Business Analysis.

Exam

An exam is included as part of the course cost. The multiple-choice exam consists of 40 questions with a pass mark of 26 out of 40. Currently, the exam must be taken remotely using the BCS online proctoring service.

Course Content

Business analysis rationale

• The scope of business analysis
• Definition of business analysis
• The development of business analysis
• The business change lifecycle
• Roles in business analysis

Strategic analysis in context

• External analysis – PESTLE, Five Forces Analysis
• Internal analysis – Resource Audit, MOST
• Critical success factors and key performance indicators
• Measuring performance – the Balanced Business Scorecard

Business performance measurement

• Critical success factors and key performance indicators
• Measuring performance – the Balanced Business Scorecard

A project approach to business analysis

• Initiating a business analysis study
• Defining terms of reference

Understanding business situations

• Review of investigation techniques
• Documenting the business situation:
  • Rich pictures
  • Mind maps
  • Empathy maps
  • Customer journey maps

Stakeholder engagement and business perspectives

• Identifying stakeholders
• Analysing stakeholders – Power/Interest Grid, RACI
• Stakeholder management strategies
• Defining business perspectives – CATWOE

Analysing and modelling the business activities

• Types of business activity
• Building a conceptual business activity model
• Consolidating perspectives and building consensus

Identifying potential solutions

• Business events
• Business rules
• Business process models
• Exploring the gap between the current and desired situation
• Identifying areas for business improvement – POP-IT
• Taking a holistic approach to business improvement

Making the business case

• Analysing feasibility
• Investment appraisal
• Contents of a business case
• Options
• Costs and benefits
• Impacts and risks
• Lifecycle for the business case