Strategic Business Analysis (BA02)

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to see the “big picture” and understand the internal/external characteristics of your enterprise before determining solutions
• Understand what comprises strategy analysis and when and how it is performed
• Recognize how risks influence the viability of solution options
• Identify the benefits for developing a thorough change strategy
• Discuss the purpose and importance of business case development and how to leverage a business case to communicate the viability for pursuing a change to your decision makers
• Prepare a business case employing qualitative and quantitative analysis methods

Intended Audience:

Executives, Project Managers, Business Analysts, Business and IT stakeholders working with business analysts

Prerequisites:

This course is aimed for experienced practitioners who desire a clear understanding of Strategic Business Analysis, who would like to understand what comprises this work, and the objectives for performing it. It is recommended that participants complete the BA01 – Business Analysis Essentials course prior to enrolling or have equivalent experience.

Course Outline:                  

Section 1: Foundational Concepts

• Components of business analysis
• Business analysis competencies
• IIBA/PMI and the goals of a professional association
• Purpose for having a BA standard
• Exercise: Review the case study

Section 2: Introduction to Strategy Analysis

• Definition and purpose of Strategy Analysis
• The timing of Strategy Analysis
• Identifying stakeholders and the business need
• Discussions:
  • Strategy analysis in your organization
  • When business needs are not clearly defined
  • Strategy Analysis and the business analyst
• Exercises:
  • Describe Strategy Analysis
  • Identify Roles/Responsibilities
  • Identify the business need

Section 3: Analyze the Current State environment

• The importance of analyzing Current State
• Understanding Business Architecture
• Techniques for analyzing Current State

Section 4: Define the Future State

• Future State description
• Assessing impacts to business architecture
• Determining Solution Scope
• Discussions:
  • Managing expectations with stakeholders
  • Capturing current capabilities
  • How to approach acquiring capabilities

Section 5: Assess Risks

• Identifying risks
• Risk Tolerance/Categories/risk responses
• The concept of positive risk
• Techniques for identifying risks
• Discussions:
  • Who is responsible for identifying risks?
  • Who captures positive risks today?
• Exercise: Identify Risks

Section 6: Define the Change Strategy

• Defining change strategy
• Components of change strategy
• Solution scope, enterprise readiness and change
• Techniques for defining a change strategy

Section 7: Developing a Business Case

• The purpose of a business case
• Business case components
• Building a convincing business case
• Determining the Recommended Solution
• Packaging the business case
• Reviewing the business case with stakeholders
• Discussions:
  • Evaluating project proposals
  • Anticipating questions for the business case review
• Exercise: Create a business case

Section 8: Additional resources

• Helpful links for obtaining additional business analysis information