BCS Certificate in Business Analysis Practice

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.

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.

Following your course you will be sent an email from BCS asking you to register for your exam. Once you have registered and your exam results become available then you will be able to log back into your account and view your results.

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• Describe the rationale for Business Analysis
• Use strategic analysis techniques to understand the strategic context
• Explain techniques to investigate an organisation's current situation
• 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 including investment appraisal

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. Delegates wishing to acquire the skill set required for analysing and addressing business problems and wishing to attain the BCS Business Systems Development Certificate in Business Analysis Practice would benefit from attending this course.

If you are taking a BCS exam you must bring photographic identification with you (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. For any questions about what form of identification is acceptable please contact your Account Manager or the QA Examination Administration team on 44 (0)1793 696273.

BCS allow additional time for candidates who have a disability or whose native language differs to that of the examination paper. Full details are provided in the BCS Reasonable Adjustments Policy which is available to view on the BCS website. If you believe you qualify for this then please notify the Exam Administration team on the details below as early as possible. At least two weeks' notice will be required for processing this request. Delegates failing to advise QA and provide evidence when requested, may not be allowed the additional support offered via the BCS policy. QA Exam Administration can be contacted by email exam.admin@qa.com or by phone 44(0) 1793 696162.

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

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

Stakeholder analysis and management: 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

Building 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