1. Objectives
The course focuses on assisting people from non-IT domains to convert to IT Business Analysts, equipping students with the practical skills required to succeed, grow and perform effectively in the business analysis field. Learning objectives:
- Understand and approach fundamental business analysis concepts
- Make a clear distinction between the roles of a business analyst and project manager
- Identify the main responsibilities and deliverables afferent for each BA activity
- Identify stakeholders and select appropriate techniques for eliciting the requirements
- Understand and describe how a business analyst works with stakeholders to identify and comprehend their business needs
- Define and apply business analysis tasks that progressively elaborate stakeholder and solution requirements
- Demonstrate effective use of written, verbal, and non-verbal communication, employing relevant knowledge, skills, and judgment in a business setting
- Demonstrate organization skills, prepare written and oral presentations, interview clients, facilitate meetings, and respond to conflict professionally
- Demonstrate employability skills and a commitment to professionalism
The sessions include presentations, class discussions, hands-on activities, group and individual exercises, threaded case studies, real scenarios from IT projects, and action planning for on-the-job implementation.
2. Prerequisites
Persons eligible for this course should have analysis, decision-making, communication skills and a suitable mindset for achieving business success by providing the right business solution according to the identified business needs.
3. Curriculum
10
modules
52
topics
011. Key concepts
- Introduction
- Business Analysis
- Business Analyst
- Requirements
- Stakeholders
- Project
022. Requirements Elicitation
- Definition
- Good requirements vs. bad requirements
- Requirements elicitation process
- How to identify requirements sources
- Project scope
- Elicitation techniques: Brainstorming, Document analysis, Focus groups, Interface Analysis, Interviews, Observation, Process modeling, Prototyping, Requirements workshops, Survey / Questionnaire
033. Analyzing requirements
- Definition
- Modeling requirements
- Business Process Analysis
- Structured Analysis
- Object oriented analysis
044. Requirements Validation
- Requirements validation process
- Validation techniques: User acceptance testing, Operational prototype (Proof of concept)
055. Communicating Requirements
- Creating a communication plan
- Documenting requirements
- Preparing a requirements presentation
- Obtaining requirements sign-off
066. Planning and Managing Requirements
- Change management
- Defining requirements attributes
- Requirements Management tools
077. The Business Analyst and the SCRUM Team
- SCRUM / Agile definition
- BA / PO role in the SCRUM development team
- BA / PO and the stakeholders management
- Techniques: Backlog management, Writing User stories and acceptance criteria, Estimating the work, Prioritization
- Interview
- Brainstorming
- Workshops
- Documents analysis & Business rules analysis
- Non-functional requirements analysis
- Decision making
088. A Day in the Life of a Business Analyst
- Meetings
- Formal and informal communication
- Problem solving
- Decision making
- Reporting
099. General Architecture Concepts
- Types of applications: Desktop Apps, Web Apps, Mobile Apps
- Programming language fundamentals
- Development deliverables
- Communication with a Project Manager / Architect / Tester / UX / Software Engineer
- General testing concepts: What is testing, Testing phases, Testing types, Bug tracking tools, Testing deliverables
- Database Concepts: What is a database?, Fundamentals of SQL Language
1010. Interview Preparation
- Commonly asked interview questions and answers
- Body Language and interview etiquette
- Adjusting language based on interviewer’s role in the company (HR vs. technical vs. BA)
- What to mention in your CV / LinkedIn profile
- What questions to ask at the end of the interview to assess the hiring company