AgileBA ® - Agile Business Analyst Foundation - eLearning (exam included)

AgileBA® (Agile Business Analyst Foundation) - Business Analysis - eLearning (exam included)

Learn to be an effective business analyst in an agile project team

This Agile Business Analyst Foundation training course provides an introduction to the best practices and approaches of Agile Business Analysis. By the end of the course, delegates will possess in-depth knowledge of Agile principles, and will know how to deliver valuable solutions when working with stakeholders. This training course encourages Business Analysts to implement the Agile framework in their systems. The Agile Business Analyst (AgileBA) certification demonstrates that you have the skills needed to be an effective business analyst working in an agile project team.

ABOUT THE COURSE

Develop the skills needed to become a proficient Agile business analyst. By the end of the Foundation-level qualification you should have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Agile Business Analysis guidance to be able to recognise and distinguish between the key elements of the approach.

Adopt and apply leading guidance from the Agile Business Consortium. Introducing an Agile approach has a significant impact on the role of the Business Analyst, on their existing skills and their way of working. AgileBA training and certification is based on the AgileBA Handbook, published by the Agile Business Consortium. The Handbook offers useful, practical and comprehensive guidance on the role of the Business Analyst working in an Agile way.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Master the role of a Business Analyst in an Agile environment. By the end of this course you should understand the key principles and terminology within Agile Business Analysis guidance. Specifically,

• The underpinning philosophy and principles of Agile
• The processes within an Agile project, including alternative configurations
• The products produced during an Agile project and their purpose
• The people within an Agile project
• The practices used in an Agile project plus their benefits and limitations
• The roles and responsibilities within an Agile project.

AGILEBA® Foundation eLearning course details

• Course and material are in English
• Beginner level suitable for Professional
• 6 months access to the self-paced eLearning platform 24/7
• 12 lessons of licensed course material, mobile compatible
• 14 hours total video content with 14 hours of advisable study time needed
• Quizzes, practice exams and AgileBA exam simulator
• AgileBA® Foundation certificate of completion
• AgileBA Foundation exam (valid for 12 months from date of purchase).

Target Audience

• Product manager
• Business Analyst
• Product Owner
• Project manager

Prerequisites

• There are no prerequisites for studying AgileBA at Foundation level. However, having at least some background knowledge of either Agile or business analysis can be helpful
• No education background needed

Course Content

An introduction to this AgileBA Foundation course

Module zero introduces you to the main features of the course as well as the curriculum, aims, objectives and structure.

It also includes a syllabus, diagrams, glossary, further reading documents and links, white papers and links to download digital copies of the framework publications. It also contains some of the most frequently asked questions about the AgileBA qualification.

Foundation Module 1: Role of the Business Analyst

Learning objectives

In module one we take a look at the role of the business analyst and how an AgileBA works in a very different way. We explore the context of an AgileBA's role in relation to business needs and address some of the best techniques that can help an AgileBA support their organisation in formulating its strategies.

Foundation Module 2: Agile Fundamentals: DSDM Principles and Roles

Learning objectives

In module two, we address the DSDM philosophy along with the agile approach to project variables. We address the DSDM process and how it can be scaled and configured. We then present the 8 DSDM principles together with the team model before addressing the DSDM roles and how they work together.

Foundation Module 3: Fundamental Concepts of Agile: DSDM Management Products

Learning objectives

In this module, we explore the management products from each DSDM phase and the purpose that each of them serves. We also look at the role of AgileBA within an Agile project.

Foundation Module 4: The Agile Business Case

Learning objectives

In module four, we review the role of the Agile business case, why one might be needed, its link to the business strategy and the typical content. We will discuss the roles and responsibilities of Agile in the business case and the Agile methods that can be used to create one.

Foundation Module 5: Stakeholders in an Agile Project

Learning objectives

In module five, we look at how to work with stakeholders in an Agile project. We start by understanding what a stakeholder is and how to engage them through different techniques and methods. We explore what good communication looks like and how important it can be to engage stakeholders at the right time and with the right level of detail. We also explore the impact this can have on project outcomes.

Foundation Module 6: Agile Methods: Facilitated Workshops

Learning objectives

Using facilitated workshops is a proven Agile methodology that ensures robust collaboration, rich communication and results with speed and buy-in. In this module, we go through some of the most common types of facilitated workshops and how AgileBA is involved in using them in a DSDM project.

Foundation Module 7: Modelling Agile Methods

Learning objectives

In module seven we continue to explore key agile practices. We start by looking at modelling and prototyping. You will understand the target audience for these practices and why they are so useful. We will discuss the different types of modelling and their purposes before looking at the link that these practices have with the DSDM principles.

Foundation Module 8: Prioritisation

Learning objectives

Module 8 is about prioritisation and the key role it plays in Agile projects. We discuss different prioritisation tools such as MoSCoW and the Kano model, and the role of effective prioritisation in the success of a project.

Foundation Module 9: Agile Methods: Timeboxes & Iterative Development

Learning objectives

This module is about timeframes, what they are and what they are used for within a project. We then move on to explore iterative development and the role it plays in solution development and testing. We conclude by exploring how AgileBAs are involved in both parts of an Agile project.

Foundation Module 10: Introduction to Requirements

Learning objectives

Modules 10 and 11 introduce you to requirements, their planning and how to estimate them. Module 10 starts by explaining several definitions and then moves on to dissect how requirements activities evolve throughout the DSDM lifecycle. During the module, you will be introduced to user stories and the INVEST model, and you will also get an insight into the purpose of PRL.

Foundation Module 11: Requirements Planning and Estimation

Learning objectives

In this module, we continue to explore requirements and the role they play in Agile projects. Here you will be introduced to the concept of requirements planning and estimation within DSDM. We go through the estimation process and the role of AgileBA in relation to requirements.

Foundation Module 12: Making the Transition

Learning objectives

The last module is a short interview with our subject matter expert and course leader, Antony della Porter. Antony raises several issues around the need for change and how this applies specifically to the role of AgileBA.

Trial

Learning objectives

The course includes two practice assignments for the AgileBA Foundation exam. One is provided by APMG, while the other comes from the AVC team. Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the course modules before attempting the practice exams.

EXAM INFORMATION

The exam is included with this eLearning course. The exam is available online via remote proctor.

EXAM FORMAT

• Multiple choice
• 50 questions per paper
• 25 marks required to pass (out of 50 available) – 50%
• 40-minute duration
• Closed book

Licensing and Accreditation:

The AgileBA® (Agile Business Analyst) Foundation and Practitioner course offered by AVC is accredited by APMG International, based on the Partner's Agreement and fulfils the accreditation requirements.

MORE INFO AGILEBA:

Agile Manifesto

We discover better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work, we have come to value:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan
• That is, while we recognize the value of the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.

Background

Agile's influence on the project management industry continues to grow rapidly. More and more organizations and project managers are using agile tools and frameworks to increase the success and return on investment of projects, product/software development, and other change initiatives.

Although they originated in software development, agile methods and frameworks are becoming increasingly popular in a wide range of industries and projects as the benefits over more traditional frameworks and methods become apparent.

As organizations and individuals embrace and transition to agile ways of working,

the roles of key personnel change significantly, requiring new guidelines, concepts, and techniques.

Before AgileBA, there were few detailed guidelines that directly addressed the role, responsibilities, and competencies of an agile business analyst.

The role of the business analyst in an agile world

The role of the business analyst is to study the organization's overall business and information needs in order to facilitate solutions to business problems.

This may include:

• Strategic analysis, modeling of strategic themes and drivers
• Business capability modeling – modeling what the business does (conceptual
• activity models), as opposed to how it does it (physical process models)
• Mapping processes and value streams (value chains)
• Mapping skills and competencies
• Redefining/restructuring processes
• Data definition and event identification
• Coordination between different business and technical disciplines
• Requirements management
• Discovery and definition of cost-effective, valuable solutions to business needs

Business analysis takes place from the highest level of the organization, where vision, mission, goals, and strategy are managed, to the tactical level where work programs are established to manage the strategy and where solution development projects are often found.

At the higher level, the business analyst is a business architect who defines and models what the business should do strategically. High-level models of the organization enable the definition of a robust and coherent business architecture with clear goals and metrics. This then supports tactical decisions on how to achieve the goals at the program and project levels.

TESTIMONIALS/ REVIEWS

“Most convenient way to study and take exams. Good course, well developed.

Good service from the support staff of AVC."  Tim Hansson

"Good and efficient :) online training course.  I liked the practical examples and  exercises.

Perfect to able to apply to my work and pass my exam."  Thomas Qvistgaard

"Solid education experience, well organized and well thought out. Would recommend and would use AVC again."  David Johnsson

"The training course was very good. It is, of course, a must to read the whole manual and make sure you understand it, but the course was able to indicate for me where I should focus more (the highlights per chapter). It was also nice that I could practice my knowledge on the example test since it helped me understand the format of the test, where I should focus and what knowledge gaps I had before taking the real test. I will say that I may have preferred it more than a class course since I was able to adjust my studing time around my busy schedule."  Maria, M (Project Manager)