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Business Analysis Techniques/1© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Business Analysis Techniques …you can never have too many tools
Paul Turner
Edinburgh 12th April 2012
Business Analysis Techniques/2© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Business analysis - definitions
An internal consultancy role responsible for investigating business situations, identifying and evaluating options for implementation business systems, defining requirements and ensuring the effective use of information systems in meeting the needs of the business.
The methodical investigation, analysis, review and documentation of all or part of a business in terms of business functions and processes, the information used and the data on which the information is based. The definition of requirements for improving any aspect of the processes and systems and the quantification of potential business benefits. The creation of viable specifications and acceptance criteria in preparation for the construction of information and communication systems.
Business Analysis 2nd Ed., Debra Paul and Donald Yeates (eds), BCS, 2010
SFIA v5.0, 2011
Business Analysis Techniques/3© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
An alternative definition
Business Analysis Techniques/4© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
The breadth of Business Analysis ?
Business case
Business analysis
Requirements engineering
Solution development
Strategic analysis
Business Analysis Techniques/5© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
The breadth of Business Analysis ?
Business case
Business analysis
Requirements engineering
Solution development
Strategic analysis
Systems Thinking
Agile development
Business Architecture
Solution Architecture
Business Analysis Techniques/6© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
BA techniques in context
Techniques
Context
+ + + LifecycleRationale Roles Deliverables
Business Analysis Techniques/7© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
BA techniques in context
Techniques
Context
+ + + LifecycleRationale Roles Deliverables
Business Analysis Techniques/8© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Some business analysis techniques
Business Analysis Techniques/9© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Some business analysis techniquesCritical success factorsContext diagramRich pictureFunction hierarchyNetwork architecture planWorkflow diagramOrganisation chartEntity relationship model (high-level)Business process modelHigh-level data flow diagramBusiness object model
Use case diagramUse case descriptionTechnical architecture modelFunctional dependency diagramBusiness scenario modellingTask analysisBusiness event modelBusiness roles definitionLogical data modelClass modelRelational data analysis
Website navigation modelProcess dependency modellingObject interaction / collaboration diagramObject role modelsUser conceptual modelUser interface object modelScreen navigation designSystem event modellingState transition diagramState machine diagramObject dynamic model
SWOTPESTLEFive ForcesPower/interest gridMOSTResource auditBCG matrixBalanced business scorecardKey performance indicatorsCATWOEBusiness activity modelling
Event analysisPayback calculationDCF/NPV calculationInternal rate of returnBenefits managementBenefits realisationUser acceptance testingSwimlane diagramsBusiness process reengineeringBusiness process management
Process streamliningBusiness process redesignInterviewingWorkshopsQuestionnairesDocument analysisRecord searchingSpecial-purpose recordsActivity samplingWork measurementPrototyping
Business Analysis Techniques/10© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
More business analysis techniques
Give up yet?
BrainstormingRound-robinColumns and clustersBodyguards and assassinsVernissageTalking wallForce-field analysisGreenfield siteTransporterPrioritisationTime beam
Aargh!
Cost/benefit analysisImpact analysisGap analysisStandard costingMarginal costingAbsorption costingRatio analysisMoSCoWOrganisation diagramReport writingPresentation techniques
And even then people said “ You’ve missed …….”
Business Analysis Techniques/11© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
The role of the business analyst
Investigating the situation
Stimulating thinking
Modelling business
processes
Analysing strategy
Specifying information
systems
Developing business
case
Business analyst
Business Analysis Techniques/12© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Investigating the situation
Workshops
Interviewing
Questionnaires
Document analysis
Record searching
Business analyst
Special-purpose records
Activity sampling
Work measurement
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Business Analysis Techniques/13© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Analysing strategy
Five forces
MOST
Resource audit
CATWOE
Business analyst
SWOT
PESTLE
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Business Analysis Techniques/14© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Developing a business case
Business analyst
Payback calculation
IRR
DCF/NPVBenefits
management
Cost/benefit analysis
Impact analysis
Gap analysis
Marginal costing
Standard costing
Benefits realisation
Absorption costing
Ratio analysis
Report writing
Presentation techniques
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Business Analysis Techniques/15© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Finding reasons not to
Business Analysis Techniques/16© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Selecting techniques
• The situation:• How much time?• How much money?• How good a job?• Local standards!
• The ‘users’:• Technical literacy• Patience• Decisiveness
• The business analyst:• Personality• Preferences• Knowledge• Experience
Business Analysis Techniques/17© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
•Type - hard, soft
•Usage - analysis, modelling, communication
•Audience - shared, private
•Documentation - core, support
Selecting techniques
Business Analysis Techniques/18© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Mastering techniques (1)
Business Analysis Techniques/19© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Courses
Private study
Work Experience
Mastering techniques (2)
Networking
Business Analysis Techniques/20© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
A basic toolkit
BusinessStrategy
and Objectives
InvestigateSituation
ConsiderPerspectives
AnalyseNeeds
Evaluate options
Define Requirements
Manage Change
PESTLE
MOST
SWOT
Resource Audit
POP-IT model
Rich pictures
Interviews
Workshops
Context diagrams
StakeholderManagement
CATWOEPARADE
BAMs
RASCI
Gap analysis
Value chainAnalysis
OrganisationDiagraming
Process Modelling
CRUD Matrix
Feasibility Analysis
ImpactAnalysis
InvestmentAppraisal
Businesscase
Scenarios
Storyboarding
Prototyping
MoSCoW
Timeboxing
Cultural web
Learning cycle
SARAH
BenefitsRealisation
Business Analysis Techniques/21© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
CATWOE
Swimlane diagrams
Use case diagrams
Workshops
Mind maps
Organisation diagram
Cost-benefit analysis
SWOT
Prioritisation
Scenario analysis
Interviewing
From: Business Analysis Techniques 72 essential Tools for Success – Cadle, Paul and Turner (2010)
Business Analysis Techniques – The ‘first eleven’
Business Analysis Techniques/22© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
So why not try some out
for yourself!
Business Analysis Techniques/23© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Guiding principles for business analysis
• Root causes: not symptoms
• Business improvement: not IT system change
• Creative options: not prescribed solutions
• Feasible requirements: not all suggestions
• Entire lifecycle: not just requirements definition
• Negotiation: not conflict avoidance
• Business agility: not business perfection
Business Analysis Techniques/24© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
BA of the Year Award 2012
• Will be presented at the Business Analysis Conference Europe in London on 25th September 2012
• Five finalists get free entry to the Conference from 24 th to 26th September 2012
• Application form from: [email protected]
• Closing date for entries: 20th July 2012
Award sponsored by:
Business Analysis Techniques/25© Assist Knowledge Development, 2012
Business Analysis Techniques …you can never have too many tools
Paul Turner