COURSE OUTLINE

COURSE: SCS 2379

Foundations in Business Analysis INSTRUCTOR: Farhad Khurshid MES, MBA, PM, ITIL, AcertPM E-mail: kfarhad01@yahoo.ca DATE/TIME: REQUIRED TEXT(S): BABoK (Business Analysis Body of Knowledge) Version 2 IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis) RECOMMENDED TEXT(S): N/A

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The Foundations in Business Analysis course addresses all

of the elements of the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABoK). This body of knowledge was formulated by The International Institute of Business Analysis and it serves as the basis for attaining the internationally recognized Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) designation. This course will introduce all of the Business Analysis skills, tools and techniques at a macro level to enable the student to appreciate all of these important knowledge areas and put them into context for a full project life cycle. These capabilities will be referenced throughout the course to show how they are utilized to accomplish the work that the Business Analyst is required to perform. The major areas of responsibility for the Business Analyst include such topics as Business Case Development, Enterprise Analysis, Requirements Management, Requirements Elicitation, Business Requirements Documentation, Solution Assessment and Results Evaluation. In addition, this course introduces the underlying competencies and technical capabilities that today’s Business Analyst is expected to understand and apply in delivering value to their respective organization.

PREREQUISITE(S): N/A

CERTIFICATE(S): This course is part of the Certificate in Business Analysis

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COURSE OBJECTIVES: By the end of this course, you will have greater knowledge of and familiarity with:

1. Business Analysis competencies 2. Enterprise Analysis. 3. Requirements elicitation planning and execution. 4. Solution Assessment and evaluation 5. Tools & Techniques of Business Analysis

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SCHEDULE

Session TOPIC

1 Introduction to Business Analysis : BABoK Chapter 1 - Business Analysis Body of Knowledge - Key Concepts - Knowledge areas and BA responsibilities

Techniques and Underlying competencies

2 Underlying Competencies BABoK Chapter 8 - Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving - Behavioral Characteristics - Business Knowledge - Communications Skills - Interaction Skills

Software Applications

3 Techniques associated with: BABoK Chapter 9 - Strategy (SWOT Analysis, Benchmarking, Brainstorming) - Fact Finding (Focus Groups, Interviewing, Surveys) - Information Knowledge (Data Flow Diagramming, Data Dictionary)

4 Techniques associated with: BABoK Chapter 9 - Process Knowledge (Process Modeling, Functional Decomposition) - Solution Knowledge (Prototyping, Risk Analysis, Scope Modeling)

5 Enterprise Analysis BABoK Chapter 5 - Defining the Business Need - Assessing Capability Gaps - Determining the Solution Approach - Defining the Solution Scope

Defining the Business Case

6 Mid Term Exam

7 Elicitation of Requirements BABoK Chapter 3 - Preparing for Elicitation - Conducting Elicitation Activities - Documenting Elicitation Results

Confirming Elicitation Results

8 Requirements Analysis BABoK Chapter 6 - Prioritize Requirements - Organize Requirements - Specify and Model Requirements - Define Assumptions and Constraints - Verify Requirements

Validate Requirements

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9 Requirements Management and Communication BABoK Chapter 4 - Managing Solution Scope and Requirements - Managing Requirements Traceability - Maintaining Requirements for Re-use - Preparing the Requirements Package

Communicating Requirements 10 Solution Assessment & Validation BABoK Chapter 7

- Assess Proposed Solution - Allocate Requirements - Assess Organizational Readiness - Define Transition Requirements - Validate the Solution

Evaluate the Solution’s Performance

11 Business Analysis Planning & Monitoring BABoK Chapter 2 - Planning the Business Analysis Approach - Conducting Stakeholder Analysis - Planning BA Activities - Planning BA Communication - Planning the Requirements Management Process

Managing BA Performance

12 Case Study + Final Exam

GRADING AND EVALUATION: Assignment 1 15% Assignment 2 25% Mid Term Exam 20% Final Exam 40% Each student will join a 5 person team to work on 2 group

assignments. Team participation will also be considered in the Assignment 2 mark.

SCS GRADING SCALE: A 80% to 100% Excellent B 70% to 79% Good C 60% to 69% Adequate D 50% to 59% Marginal FX Less than 50% Inadequate/Incomplete

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If you are unable to write the final exam for whatever reason, you must contact the Program Office (416-978-2412). You can write an Alternate Examination at a later date (likely next semester). The Alternate Examination Application form can be downloaded from our website: www.learn.utoronto.ca. Please complete this form, and along with the fee of $150.00, submit it to the Registration Office. Students can expect to receive feedback and marks, if applicable, before the course end date, for all their submitted assignment(s) and term test(s) other than the final exam or final project or final

course paper. However, it is the sole responsibility of students to make sure that they do get these marks from their instructor and have all related questions answered before the course ends.

ACADEMIC CONSULTATION: Most issues and questions can be addressed during class or by e-mail. Unless urgent information is required, I will respond to your e-mail questions during the next class. If confidentiality is required, we can arrange a mutually convenient time to address questions – either before or after class, or by telephone.

NOTE(S): Further courses in the Certificate in Business Analysis are available. The

two additional courses are Leadership in Business Analysis which focuses on practicing the underlying competencies of Business Analysis as well as the Tools and Techniques of Business Analysis which provides hands-on experience in utilizing the Business Analysis modeling tools and techniques.

In the event that we have to cancel your class at the last moment due to weather, instructor illness, etc., please ensure that you have provided a daytime phone number or email in

your student profile, so that we are able to notify you immediately.