Business Analysis Essentials

Business Analysis Essentials

Duration:	3 days
Scheduled course fee:	£1195+VAT
ISEB exam fee:	£110+VAT AssistKD delegates / £195+VAT non AssistKD course attendees

Business Analysis Essentials Overview
Business Analysis Essentials provides delegates with the skills they need to become effective business analysts. A range of business analysis techniques including SWOT analysis, stakeholder management, business activity modelling and gap analysis are explored. During the course, delegates will be encouraged to apply these techniques in the context of a business analysis assignment. The stages of this assignment will include the investigation of the business situation, analysis of key issues and their root causes, gap analysis to establish the business problems as well as the identification and evaluation of possible solutions.
Business Analysis Essentials is delivered by trainers who bring their substantial experience of practical business analysis projects to the programme. The case study supporting the course is based on a genuine consultancy assignment. A comprehensive manual, containing detailed information about business analysis techniques and providing references for further reading, is supplied as part of the course.
ISEB qualifications
This course prepares candidates to sit the examination for the ISEB Certificate in Business Analysis Essentials. This involves a one-hour, open book examination that may be taken at the end of the course or at a public examination session. The certificate in Business Analysis Essentials is a core module for the ISEB Diploma in Business Analysis and a specialist module for the ISEB Diploma in Systems Development .
SFIA Mapping
Business analysis level 5. Content

1. Business analysis rationale
   • What is a business system
   • The place of business analysis
   • Business analysis versus systems analysis
   • Approaches to business analysis
2. Strategic analysis in context
   • Understanding the organisation's strengths and weaknesses
   • External analysis - PESTLE
   • Internal analysis - Resource Audit
   • Building a comprehensive SWOT analysis
3. A project approach to business analysis
   • Business analysis studies as projects
   • Terms of reference and project initiation
   • Assuring business benefit
4. Understanding the situation/issues
   • Types of business 'problem'
   • Rich pictures
   • Defining the problem
   • Review of investigation techniques
5. Business perspectives
   • Business perspective - introduction
   • Defining the perspective - CATWOE
6. Analysing and modelling the business activities
   • Modelling business activities
   • Five types of business activity
   • Modelling multiple perspectives
   • Decomposing activities
   • Validating the business activity model
   • End-to-end process maps
7. Creative problem solving
   • Barriers to creativity
   • Brainstorming
   • Stimulating creative thinking
8. Identifying potential solutions
   • Exploring the gap between the current and desired situation
   • Areas for business improvement (structure, processes, people)
   • Holistic approach to business solutions
   • Discussion of business change programmes
9. Making the business case
   • Contents of a business case
   • Options
   • Costs and benefits
   • Impacts and risks
   • Payback and discounted cash flow
   • Presenting the business case
10. Course summary and review
    • Review of concepts and approaches covered