Overview A Strategic thinking and feasibility study is an effective way to safeguard against the wastage of investment or scarce resources. Organisations can reduce the risk of developing unpopular and impractical projects by conducting a feasibility study. A business plan can start only after a proposed business idea has been proven feasible. If feasible, we can proceed with a high level of confidence that the business plan will result in a profitable opportunity. It will provide a âroadmapâ that shows how a business may be created and developed.
Facilitation Skills for Business Analysts: In-House Training This course is part of IIL's Business Analysis Certificate Program (BACP), a program designed to help prepare individuals pass the IIBA® Certification exam to become a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP™). Business analysts are communicators who bridge the gap between people with business needs and knowledge and the people who will provide solutions. Business analysts are continuously involved in communications with stakeholders and developers as they create the solution to business problems. They participate in information-gathering sessions including interviewing, joint requirements definition, and Joint Application Design (JAD) workshops which are used to streamline information gathering and get immediate validation from user representatives. The business analyst is also involved with negotiating the solution with the stakeholders, upper-level management, and the developers, mediating among the groups when disagreements take place, and influencing the results of decisions during the solution cycle. This course teaches the methods needed to organize and run information-gathering events. It combines the basics of graphic decision making and modeling with facilitation, communication, and meeting management skills. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Identify the major touch points between key BABOK® Guide knowledge areas and business analysis communication Describe the facilitation skills that are most supportive of those intersections Improve your ability to apply these skills in the context of your business analyst functions Foundation Concepts The role of the Business analyst (BA) An Introduction to the BABOK® Guide Business analyst roles and the product / project life cycle (PLC) Facilitation skills for the business analyst The BABOK® Guide and Communication An introduction to the communication process Addressing basic communications challenges Planning business analysis communication Communication and BABOK® Guide tasks Targeted Elicitation Techniques Synergy between communication and targeted elicitation techniques Preparing for elicitation Cornerstone targeted technique: interviews Other targeted elicitation techniques Related general communication skills Group Elicitation Techniques Synergy between requirements communication and group elicitation techniques Cornerstone group elicitation technique - requirements workshops Other group elicitation techniques Related general communication skills - meeting management best practices Related general communication skills - facilitating best practices Process / Model-Based Elicitation Techniques Synergy between requirements communication and process / model-based elicitation techniques Process / model-based elicitation techniques Related interpersonal skills - problem solving and decision making Investigative Elicitation Techniques Synergy between requirements communication and investigative elicitation techniques Cornerstone investigative elicitation technique - document analysis Other investigative elicitation techniques Summary of elicitation techniques by usage in the requirements process Using Presentations, Structured Walkthroughs, and Influencing Structured walkthroughs, presentations, and influencing within BABOK® Guide tasks Cornerstone technique - structured walkthroughs General communication skill - presenting Related interpersonal skill - influencing Special Facilitation Skills - Negotiating and Mediating Negotiating Mediating
Business Process Modeling: Virtual In-House Training This course is part of IIL's Business Analysis Certificate Program (BACP), a program designed to help prepare individuals pass the IIBA® Certification exam to become a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP®). Learn more at www.iil.com/bacp A process model is a description of a process in terms of its steps or actions, the data flowing between them and participants in the process, machines, systems, and organizations involved. Modeling is a critical business analysis skill. It applies graphical and text communication techniques to describe the actions, objects, and relationships acted upon in the process and the steps that act upon them. This course teaches the technique of process modeling and ties together the core methods of process, behavior, and data modeling to enable business analysts to fully describe business processes in levels of detail from multiple perspectives. What you will Learn Upon completion, participants will be able to: Identify business processes and their components Work with UML diagrams Use process modeling in business diagramming Diagram and model business processes Foundation Concepts The role of the business analyst The IIBA® BABOK® Knowledge Areas Business Process Modeling (BPM) and the business analyst A practical approach to business process modeling The Context for Modeling Business Processes Overview of context for business process modeling Analyzing stakeholder information Modeling best practices Critical inputs for BPM: Business Rules Critical inputs for BPM: Context Diagrams Data Models Overview of data modeling Entity relationship diagrams Object-oriented approach Class diagrams Other data models Process Models - Part I (Non-UML) Overview of process modeling Data flow diagrams Workflow diagrams Flowcharts Process Models - Part II (UML) Overview of UML Process Models UML Activity Diagrams UML Sequence Diagrams Usage Models - Part I (Non-UML) Overview of usage modeling Prototyping options Static prototyping and storyboards Dynamic prototyping User Interface Design and user stories Usage Models - Part II (UML Use Cases) Overview of Use Cases Use Case diagrams Use Case descriptions Use Cases and the product life cycle Integrating the Models Overview of integrating the models General analysis best practices Specific analysis techniques summary Best practices for transition to design Summary and Next Steps What did we learn and how can we implement this in our work environments?
Business Intelligence: Virtual In-House Training Business Intelligence (BI) refers to a set of technology-based techniques, applications, and practices used to aggregate, analyze, and present business data. BI practices provide historical and current views of vast amounts of data and generate predictions for business operations. The purpose of Business Intelligence is the support of better business decision making. This course provides an overview of the technology and application of BI and how it can be used to improve corporate performance. What you will Learn You will learn how to: Specify a data warehouse schema Identify the data and visualization to be used for data mining and Business Intelligence Design a Business Intelligence user interface Getting Started Introductions Agenda Expectations Foundation Concepts The challenge of decision making What is Business Intelligence? The Business Intelligence value proposition Business Intelligence taxonomy Business Intelligence management issues Sources of Business Intelligence Data warehousing Data and information Information architecture Defining the data warehouse and its relationships Facts and dimensions Modeling, meta-modeling, and schemas Alternate architectures Building the data warehouse Extracting Transforming Loading Setting up the data and relationships Dimensions and the Fact Table Implementing many-to-many relationships in data warehouse Data marts Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) What is OLAP? OLAP and OLTP OLAP functionality Multi-dimensions Thinking in more than two dimensions What are the possibilities? OLAP architecture Cubism Tools OLAP variations - MOLAP, ROLAP, HOLAP BI using SOA Applications of Business Intelligence Applying BI through OLAP Enterprise Resource Planning and CRM Business Intelligence and financial information Business Intelligence User Interfaces and Presentations Data access Push-pull data access Types of decision support systems Designing the front end Presentation formats Dashboards Types of dashboards Common dashboard features Briefing books and scorecards Querying and Reporting Reporting emphasis Retrofitting Talking back Key Performance Indicators Report Definition and Visualization Typical reporting environment Forms of visualization Unconstrained views Data mining What is in the mine? Applications for data mining Data mining architecture Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CISP-DM) Data mining techniques Validation The Business Intelligence User Experience The business analyst role Business analysis and data analysis Five-step approach Cultural impact Identifying questions Gathering information Understand the goals The strategic Business Intelligence cycle Focus of Business Intelligence Design for the user Iterate the access Iterative solution development process Review and validation questions Basic approaches Building ad-hoc queries Building on-demand self-service reports Closed loop Business Intelligence Coming attractions - future of Business Intelligence Best practices in Business Intelligence
Better Business Cases™ Foundation: In-House Training: In-House Training Better Business Cases™ is based on the Five Case Model - which is the UK government's best practice approach to structuring spending proposals and making effective business decisions. Using this best practice approach will allow organizations to reduce unnecessary spending and improve the decision-making process which gives you a greater chance of securing necessary funding and support for initiatives. The goal of the foundation course is to enable participants to work effectively with a team to develop a strong business case in their work environment. What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Describe the philosophy and the underlying rationale of the Five Case Model Identify different types of business case, their purpose, who is responsible for them Recognize when the different types are required in the development of a spending proposal Develop the business case in relation to other recognized and recommended best practices for programme and project management Overview of the Five Case Model Five key components of a business case and the order in which they are presented Three key stages in the development of a spending proposal Definition of a programme / project and the key differences between programmes and projects Purpose of a Business Justification Case (BJC) and in what circumstances it should be considered Purpose of a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) Purpose of an Outline Business Case (OBC) Purpose of a Full Business Case (FBC) Relationship between policies, strategies, programmes, and projects and their deliverables Developing the Strategic Case Purpose and core content of a Strategic Case Purpose of SMART robust spending objectives and the key objectives for spend: economy, efficiency, effectiveness, re-procurement, and statutory or regulatory compliance Four main categories of benefits criteria and the parties involved in their development Three key categories of risk Purpose of identifying constraints and dependencies Difference between direct and indirect benefits Developing the Economic Case Purpose and core content of an Economic Case Purpose of critical success factors and the key critical success factors based upon the Five Case Model Purpose of the long list options and how to generate options and undertake SWOT analysis Minimum of four short-list options, how they are derived, and what they should include (Reference Project / Public Sector Comparator [PSC]) Difference between the preferred way forward and the preferred option Purpose, objectives, key participants, and outputs of Workshop Stage 2 - identifying and assessing the options Rules that should be followed for the treatment of costs and benefits Key differences between economic appraisals and financial appraisals Factors considered when selecting the preferred option Developing the Commercial Case Purpose and core content of a Commercial Case Guiding principles when apportioning risk between the contractual parties Purpose of payment mechanisms Purpose of Step 9 in the development framework: Contracting for the deal Developing the Financial Case Purpose and core content of a Financial Case The financial statements required for all projects The possible impacts to consider Developing the Management Case Purpose and core content of a Management Case Purpose of a programme / project management strategy, framework, and plan Purpose of a change management strategy, framework, and plan Purpose of a benefits realization strategy, framework, and register / plan Purpose of a risk management strategy, framework and register / plan Purpose of a post programme / project evaluation strategy, framework, and plan
Certified Business Relationship Manager (CBRM®): Virtual In-House Training The CBRM® Practitioner Qualification is intended for the intermediate-to-advanced Business Relationship Manager, as it focuses on advancing to the role of Strategic Business Relationship Manager. As such, the primary focus is on strategic business relationship management, leveraged to optimize business value to the enterprise. The purpose of the Practitioner qualification is to confirm whether the candidate has achieved sufficient understanding and competence to perform the role of Strategic Business Relationship Manager. To pursue the CBRM® certification, a candidate must be a certified Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP®). What You Will Learn The successful candidate will demonstrate deep understanding and ability to perform the Strategic BRM role. Specifically, the candidate will: Effectively communicate the purpose and objectives of the Strategic BRM role and how to optimally position that role for maximum effectiveness within the enterprise Understand how to use their personal power and influence to build business relationships and foster a culture that excels at business value results Apply the Strategic Relationship Management processes and techniques to build and sustain trust relationships spanning Business Partner and Provider networks Be able to assess Business Demand Maturity and Business Relationship Maturity and how these might evolve over time Be able to assess Provider Capability Maturity and BRM Competencies and identify key areas needing improvement Be able to apply cross-organization communication techniques to clearly articulate real Provider / business value delivered to the organization Be able to influence executive leaders in their use of Provider Capabilities and Assets based upon potential business value and convergence with business strategy Promote and catalyze business innovation in the Provider's sphere of influence Be able to use the Business Value Management process, techniques, and metrics to define, realize, and optimize the value of Provider capabilities and assets Apply Business Partner Experience Management so as to foster a positive Business Partner perception of Provider capabilities as an essential element of building and sustaining trust relationships Shape strategic agendas for optimum business value, with due consideration of external compliance requirements and potential risks to the business Understand the implications of Lean / Agile methods for the BRM role and capability Influence the development and deployment of available Provider capabilities based upon business need and potential to enable or create business value. Apply Business Capability Management to determine and acquire enabling capabilities pursuant to strategic outcomes Apply Business Capability Management to determine and acquire enabling capabilities pursuant to strategic outcomes Contribute to Business Transition Management in order to foster organizational understanding, support, adoption, and business value results of investments in new business capabilities Course Introduction Explain the House of BRM, recalling the BRM Core Disciplines, competencies required for the BRM role, and necessary conditions for protecting the integrity of the role Recall the key BRM concepts, processes, and techniques Understand the Business Relationship Maturity Model and the Five Relationship Maturity Levels Understanding Business Relationship Maturity and Value The Strategic BRM Role and Capability BRM Impact on Business Value Introduction to the ACME Leisurewear Case Scenario that is used through the course Assessing BRM Context Clarifying Issues Conducting a Business Demand Maturity Assessment Conducting a Business Relationship Maturity Assessment Conducting a Provider Capability Maturity Assessment Shaping the Business Partner's experience with the Provider The BRM role in Service Management Developing Strategic Relationships How to assess Strategic Relationships and plan for their improvement How to achieve business impact through influence and persuasion How to plan and execute BRM formal communications Organizational considerations for BRM deployment How to determine appropriate BRM performance measurement Optimizing Business Value Formulating and Clarifying Business Strategy Catalyzing Business Innovation Business Capability Management Value Management Planning Portfolio Management Business Transition Planning Business Value Optimization Summary and CBRM Exam Preparation Course Summary CBRM Syllabus Review Format and structure of the CBRM® Practitioner Exam Exam hints and tips Sample Exam
Business Analysis Fundamentals: Virtual In-House Training This course is part of IIL's Business Analysis Certificate Program (BACP), a program designed to help prepare individuals to pass the IIBA® Certification exam to become a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP™). This course teaches participants the overall process of business analysis and where it fits in the bigger picture of the project life cycle and the business context. The course is interactive and combines discussion, active workshops, and demonstrations of techniques. The goal is bottom-line results that cut through the real-world problems facing people seeking to improve the way they operate to develop new and improved systems and products or otherwise deliver results through project performance. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Define the solution scope Work with the development team in the systems testing stage Ensure the solution is usable in the business environment Foundation Concepts Defining the business analyst (BA) function The role of the BA as change agent An introduction to the BABOK® Guide BA roles and relationships through the project life cycle (PLC) Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring Overview of business analysis planning and monitoring (BAP&M) Business analysis planning and monitoring - process and tools Business analysis planning and monitoring - roles and responsibilities Business analysis planning and monitoring - governance, information management, and performance improvement Elicitation and Collaboration Overview of elicitation and collaboration Elicitation and collaboration techniques Requirements Life Cycle Management Overview of requirements life cycle management Requirements life cycle management task details Strategy Analysis Overview of strategy analysis Analyze current state Define future state Assess risks Define change strategy Requirements Analysis and Design Definition Overview of requirements analysis and design definition (RA&DD) The anatomy of requirements RA&DD task descriptions RA&DD techniques Solution Evaluation Overview of solution evaluation Solution evaluation tasks Solution evaluation in development stages Underlying Competencies Overview of underlying competencies (UC) Underlying competencies
Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP)®: Virtual In-House Training Business Relationship Management (BRM) embodies a set of competencies (knowledge, skills, and behaviors) to foster an effective business value-producing relationship between a service provider and its business partners. The BRM Discipline rests on solid research-based foundations verified and enhanced over a decade of successful implementations in leading organizations across the world. Proven to be equally effective for shared services including Human Resources, Finance, Legal, external service providers and others, BRM practices have enjoyed widespread adaptation in IT. The Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP) training and certification program provides a foundational understanding of business relationship management (BRM) for individuals at every experience level, with the training and certification designed to provide a solid baseline level of knowledge. In other words, this course provides the 'why' and the 'what' - 'why' business relationship management is important to your organization and 'what' a BRM capability does to add value to your organization. This interactive course, with discussions, partnering activities, and periodic knowledge checks, will provide you with the opportunity to apply learning to your unique organizational situations, creating solutions that you can use immediately upon returning to your workplace. This practical knowledge will allow you to demonstrate immediate value in your role, as well as prepare you for the BRMP Certification exam.
Developing the Business Case: Virtual In-House Training Business analysts must be able to create business case documents that highlight project benefits, costs, and risks. The business case is based on the real business need to be solved. These become parts of proposals, feasibility studies, and other decision support documents. This course teaches the purpose, structure, and content of a business case. It presents the basic techniques for determining financial ROI, non-tangible benefits, and the probability of meeting expectations. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Perform feasibility studies Justify the business investment to solve the business problem Prepare an effective business case document Plan and implement a business case approval process Foundation Concepts The role of the BA An introduction to the BABOK® Guide The business analyst and the product / project life cycle (PLC) The business case deliverable Introducing the Business Case Process The BA and strategy analysis The BA and the business case process (BCP) The BA during the business case process (BCP) The BA after the business case process (BCP) Importance of defining solution performance metrics Defining the Business Need Overview of defining the business need Business needs: problem / opportunity statement Product vision Objectives and constraints Exploring Business Case Solutions Overview of exploring solutions Solution identification for feasibility Solution definition for analysis Assessing project risks Justifying the Business Case Overview of justifying the business case Qualitative justification Quantitative justification Approving the Business Case Overview of business case approval Developing recommendations Preparing the decision package - documents Preparing the decision package - presentations