BCS Certificate in Business Analysis Practice (Virtual Class)

Overview

Business Analysts are increasingly required to extend themselves beyond their traditional role of developing and maintaining IT systems. They need the capability to understand the business strategy, use proven techniques to analyse the business area, and identify changes to business processes needed to meet internal and external challenges.

This course develops the skills needed to work with senior business and IT staff to analyse and model business activities. Delegates will learn how to investigate business problems, and how to identify and recommend appropriate creative solutions. At the end of the course delegates may sit an examination to attain the BCS Business Systems Development Certificate in Business Analysis Practice. These delegates should also book on course code BAPEX - Business Analysis Practice Examination.

Candidates with special examination requirements should consult the BCS web site (www.bcs.org) for their Special Needs policy. Please note that the BCS must be advised at least four weeks in advance of any special requirements.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for attending this course. This course is designed for anyone wishing to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to be a Business Analyst and/or acquire the BCS diploma in Business Analysis.

Photographic identification for exams and BCS reasonable adjustments policy

If you are taking a BCS exam you must bring photographic identification (passport, driving license or student card) as it is a BCS requirement to produce it for the invigilator prior to the exam. Failure to produce a valid form of photographic identification will result in a candidate not being able to sit the exam.
The BCS also allow additional time for candidates who have a disability or whose business language is not English. Candidates can request this additonal time in line with the BCS reasonable adjustments policy. If you believe you qualify please contact our examination administration team as early as possible (number below) who will provide you with the appropriate form for submission to the BCS.
For any questions about what form of identification is acceptable, or for more information about the BCS reasonable adjustments policy, please contact your Account Manager or the QA Examination Administration team on 44 (0)1793 696273.

Delegates will learn how to

• Describe how a business strategy is developed
• Use strategic analysis techniques
• Describe the need for project discipline
• Explain techniques to investigate an organisation's business systems
• Describe an approach to improving business systems
• Explain the importance of stakeholder management and use a stakeholder analysis technique
• Use techniques for the analysis and modelling of business systems
• Describe how recommendations for business improvement may be identified
• Describe the contents of a rigorous business case for the development and implementation of business changes
• Identify costs, benefits, impacts and risks for an option in a business case

Course Outline.

Rationale A lifecycle for business change; The role of the Business Analyst within the lifecycle for business change; Other roles within the lifecycle for business change; Purpose of analysing and modelling business systems; The framework business analysis activities

Understanding the strategic context Internal environment analysis; External environment analysis; SWOT analysis; Critical Success Factors, Key Performance Indicators and Performance Targets; The Balanced Business Scorecard as a framework for identifying CSFs and KPIs

Project discipline for business analysis studies Terms of reference/project initiation; Business and project objectives; Deliverables from business analysis studies

Understanding the situation/issues Stakeholder identification; Overview of investigative techniques; Representing an holistic view of the business situation

Analysing stakeholder perspectives Stakeholder analysis; Identifying different perspectives; Defining perspectives
Analysing and modelling business activities; Developing a conceptual business activity model from a perspective; Identifying business events; Analysing business rules; Building consensus by resolving conflicts

Identifying potential solutions Gap analysis - comparing the ideal and existing systems; Defining a new business model; Identifying IS/IT requirements to support the new business model

Making the business case Structure of a business case; Identifying options for business change; Identifying and categorising costs and benefits; Identifying and categorising risks, Identifying impacts; The lifecycle for the business case

Case Study A case study allows the delegates to undertake a simulated business analysis assignment