Students learn the steps to effective business case development and support your strategic business recommendations with sound budgeting and financial back-up. The one course you need to make high-impact recommendations and receive full management support for your ideas. This course may earn a Credly Badge.

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* Actual course outline may vary depending on offering center. Contact your sales representative for more information.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Understand the role of the business analyst within the business case process
Understand the main professional associations and standards that support business analysts in the industry
Discuss the benefits of business case creation
Explore how to define the business need
Describe the role of the business analyst in supporting the enterprise to determine how to optimally invest in the right project initiatives
Explain how to identify stakeholders and the significance to the pre-project activities
Discuss the importance of analyzing the enterprise
Describe and explore the activities performed to assess the current business environment
Explain how a business analyst describes a "future" state environment including how to identify gaps in enterprise capabilities
Present and explore how to define the scope of a solution
Describe the activities performed and techniques used to determine viable solution options
Explore various techniques for evaluating solution options including feasibility and risk analysis
Thoroughly understand the purpose of conducting a feasibility assessment
Discuss and practice a number of business analysis techniques that support the business case process
Explore the components of a business case
Describe how the business case supports decision makers in making go/no-go decisions
Demonstrate how to assemble the output from pre-project activities into a well-structured business case
Present techniques for presenting business cases to top-level managers and obtaining buy-in
Discuss methods for preparing for challenges during business case delivery

1

  • Introduction

  • Module Learning Objectives
    What is Business Analysis
    Polling Question
    International Institute of Business Analysis
    BABOK Guide Components
    Project Management Institute
    Business Analysis for Practitioners- A Practice Guide
    BABOK Guide Knowledge Areas
    Benefits of Business Analysis
    Polling Question
    A Business Analyst can Influence Project Success Factors
    Challenges of Business Analysis
    Polling Question
    Purpose of a Business Case
    Exercise 1a- What Should a Business Case Include
    Define the Business Case Elements
    What to Look Out For
    Who is Involved
    Exercise 1b- Review Business Case Outline
    Module Learning Objectives
2

  • Pre-Project Activities & the Business Analyst

  • Module Learning Objectives
    The Definition of a Business Analyst
    The Role of a Business Analyst
    Responsibilities of a BA
    BA Role vs. PM Role
    Business Analysis vs. Systems Analysis
    Business Analysis Competencies
    Polling Question
    Business Analyst Role and Stakeholders
    Exercise 2a- Review the Case Study
    What is a Stakeholder?
    The Importance of Stakeholders
    Stakeholder Identification
    Tips for Identifying Stakeholders
    Other Stakeholder Tips
    Stakeholder Identification/Analysis
    Exercise 2b- Identify Roles and Responsibilities
    Stakeholder Map
    Stakeholder Matrix & Onion Diagrams
    A Stakeholder Map
    Onion Diagram
    Exercise 2c- Why do we Need to Understand the Enterprise?
    Why Study the Enterprise?
    What is Enterprise Architecture?
    What is Strategy Analysis?
    About Strategy Analysis
    Purpose of Strategy Analysis
    When to Perform Strategy Analysis
    Strategic Planning
    Module Summary
3

  • The Needs Assessment Process

  • Module Learning Objectives
    Business Need Defined
    Define Business Need
    The Needs Assessment Process
    Problem or Opportunity
    Exercise 3a- Problem/Opportunity Identification
    Understanding Why
    Situation Statements
    Business Need and Current State
    Determine the Stakeholders
    Polling Question
    Goals and Objectives
    Polling Question
    Exercise 3b- Give 3 Examples of Business Goals
    Define Business Need Techniques
    Exercise 3c- Identify the Business Need
    Definition of Strategy Analysis
    When Business Strategy is not Driving Project Definition
    Typical Project Profile
    The Executive Paradox
    Solution to the Paradox
    Exercise 3d- Describe 3 Outcomes You Would Expect from the Case Study
    The Four 'Ares'
    Understand How to Create a Business Model
    Business Model Example
    Exercise 3e- Create a Business Model
    The Business Case Approach
    Financial and Strategic Measurement Tools
    Module Summary
4

  • Determining the Required Capabilities & Defining Solution Scope

  • Module Learning Objectives
    Business Need and Current State
    Purpose of Analyzing the Current State
    Analyzing Current Capabilities and Process
    Capabilities Defined
    Techniques for Analyzing the Current State
    Define the Future State
    Techniques for Defining the Future State
    Assess Capability Gaps
    Stakeholders Involved when Reviewing Capability Gaps
    Discussion- Assessing New Capabilities
    Defining Solution Scope
    Determining Scope Boundary
    How to Define Solution Scope
    Defining Solution Scope
    Project Scope and Product Scope
    Scope Modeling
    Techniques Used to Define Scope
    Define Scope Boundaries
    Modeling Scope- Context Diagram
    Exercise 4a- Create a Context Diagram from the Case Study
    Communicating Solution Scope to Stakeholders
    Stakeholders Participating in Scope Activities
    Exercise 4b- Discuss Managing Expectations
    Module Summary
5

  • Assessing Feasibility & Proposing Solution Options

  • Module Learning Objectives
    Financial Analysis
    Purpose of Financial Analysis
    Costs versus Benefits
    Financial Models
    Timing for Assessing Financial Benefits
    Risk
    Assessing Risks
    Risk Process
    Exercise 5a- Identifying Risks
    Risk Analysis
    Capturing and Categorizing Risks
    Risk Strategies
    Tolerance for Risk
    Determining Solution Options
    Solution Option Process
    Determining and Analyzing Solution Options
    Brainstorming
    Conducting an Outcomes Focused Brainstorming Session
    Stakeholders Involved in Determining Solution Options
    Exercise 5b- Determining Solution Options
    Feasibility Analysis
    Discussion- Ranking Solution Options
    Discussion- Recommending the Most Viable Option
    Exercise 5c- Assess the Most Viable Options
    Solution Approach Definition
    Exercise 5d- Review the Business Case Templates
    Module Summary
6

  • Packaging & Presenting the Business Case

  • Module Learning Objectives
    Circumventing a Business Case
    Documenting the Business Case
    Value of the Business Case Process
    Business Case Components
    Business Case Techniques
    Build a Convincing Business Case
    Discussion- Identifying Decision Criteria
    Exercise 6a- Supporting a Go/No Go Decision
    Packaging the Business Case
    Planning Business Case Delivery
    Discussion- Planning Stakeholder Buy-in
    Information and Communication Needs in the Business Case Process
    Presenting your Business Case
    Exercise 6b- Anticipating and Responding to Challenges
    Module Summary
7

  • Course Wrap Up

  • Course Summary
    Questions
    Additional Resources
    Thank You

Audience

This course is intended for intermediate business and requirements analysts who are looking to improve their business case development and presentation skills. This course is also a great fit for project managers and product owners who work closely with business analysts or who perform some form of business case work themselves.

Language

English

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required for this course. This course suitable for both novices and experienced people who need to develop and justify the business case. It is recommended that participants complete the BA01: Business Analysis Essentials course prior to enrolling

$1,535

Length: 2.0 days (16 hours)

Level:

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