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
Are you looking to create the perfect business strategy to put you higher than your competitors? Are you tired of not hitting your strategic objectives? If your answers to above questions are 'yes', this course helps you a lot. What you will learn: To build your own ‘blue ocean strategy’ to avoid fierce competition & price wars. To understand strategy process and strategy mapping. To appropriately position your company in the marketplace. To make the competition irrelevant. How you will benefit from this workshop: You will gain key insights into the strategy articulation process. We help you develop your leadership skills with some practice. You will learn how to use the Balanced scorecard to map your strategy. You will learn how effective your current differentiation is and how to improve that.
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
This half day course provides participants with the knowledge and skills to write a simple but effective business plan for their organisation. It considers aspects of why business planning is important, what background research is needed, what subject areas to include and how to monitor progress against the business plan. For in-house courses the session could be extended to a whole day with participants spending the afternoon working on a first draft of a business plan.
Use Cases for Business Analysis: In-House Training The use case is a method for documenting the interactions between the user of a system and the system itself. Use cases have been in the software development lexicon for over twenty years, ever since it was introduced by Ivar Jacobson in the late 1980s. They were originally intended as aids to software design in object-oriented approaches. However, the method is now used throughout the Solution Development Life Cycle from elicitation through to specifying test cases, and is even applied to software development that is not object oriented. This course identifies how business analysts can apply use cases to the processes of defining the problem domain through elicitation, analyzing the problem, defining the solution, and confirming the validity and usability of the solution. What you will Learn You'll learn how to: Apply the use case method to define the problem domain and discover the conditions that need improvement in a business process Employ use cases in the analysis of requirements and information to create a solution to the business problem Translate use cases into requirements Getting Started Introductions Course structure Course goals and objectives Foundation Concepts Overview of use case modeling What is a use case model? The 'how and why' of use cases When to perform use case modeling Where use cases fit into the solution life cycle Use cases in the problem domain Use cases in the solution domain Use case strengths and weaknesses Use case variations Use case driven development Use case lexicon Use cases Actors and roles Associations Goals Boundaries Use cases though the life cycle Use cases in the life cycle Managing requirements with use cases The life cycle is use case driven Elicitation with Use Cases Overview of the basic mechanics and vocabulary of use cases Apply methods of use case elicitation to define the problem domain, or 'as is' process Use case diagrams Why diagram? Partitioning the domain Use case diagramming guidelines How to employ use case diagrams in elicitation Guidelines for use case elicitation sessions Eliciting the problem domain Use case descriptions Use case generic description template Alternative templates Elements Pre and post conditions Main Success Scenario The conversation Alternate paths Exception paths Writing good use case descriptions Eliciting the detailed workflow with use case descriptions Additional information about use cases Analyzing Requirements with Use Cases Use case analysis on existing requirements Confirming and validating requirements with use cases Confirming and validating information with use cases Defining the actors and use cases in a set of requirements Creating the scenarios Essential (requirements) use case Use case level of detail Use Case Analysis Techniques Generalization and Specialization When to use generalization or specialization Generalization and specialization of actors Generalization and specialization of use cases Examples Associating generalizations Subtleties and guidelines Use Case Extensions The <> association The <> association Applying the extensions Incorporating extension points into use case descriptions Why use these extensions? Extensions or separate use cases Guidelines for extensions Applying use case extensions Patterns and anomalies o Redundant actors Linking hierarchies Granularity issues Non-user interface use cases Quality considerations Use case modeling errors to avoid Evaluating use case descriptions Use case quality checklist Relationship between Use Cases and Business Requirements Creating a Requirements Specification from Use Cases Flowing the conversation into requirements Mapping to functional specifications Adding non-functional requirements Relating use cases to other artifacts Wire diagrams and user interface specifications Tying use cases to test cases and scenarios Project plans and project schedules Relationship between Use Cases and Functional Specifications System use cases Reviewing business use cases Balancing use cases Use case realizations Expanding and explaining complexity Activity diagrams State Machine diagrams Sequence diagrams Activity Diagrams Applying what we know Extension points Use case chaining Identifying decision points Use Case Good Practices The documentation trail for use cases Use case re-use Use case checklist Summary What did we learn, and how can we implement this in our work environment?
Overview This will include lectures, a detailed simulation exercise, and group discussions. Delegates will recognize the elements where their organizations may have the skills and resources to manage a crisis, but the course will help identify where specialist external support may also be required. The course is designed to provide a balanced view of how best to manage specific crisis issues while simultaneously minimizing any negative impact on ongoing business operations. Delegates will develop a list of subjects to address upon returning to their sponsoring organization
Estimating for Business Analysts: In-House Training A business analyst does not have authority to estimate the project and will not be held responsible for the project staying within the proposed budget; however, the business analyst does participate in various planning exercises with the project team. Many times the business analyst is on his or her own, required to provide estimates of how long it will take to perform their tasks. This course acquaints you with the basics of estimating from the point of view of the business analyst, emphasizing time estimates for the work. It also covers some of the product cost estimates that a business analyst may have to provide when the business is performing a cost/benefit analysis for the project. What you will Learn You'll learn how to: Translate business needs and requirements into estimates Estimate durations using a variety of techniques Negotiate differences in estimates Getting Started Introductions Course structure Course goals and objectives Foundation Concepts The importance of estimating to a business analyst The good and bad of estimating The project context The meaning of good estimating Focuses of estimating Characteristics of a good estimate Estimating the Time Requirements Applicable BABOK® Knowledge Areas Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring Elicitation and Collaboration Estimating the elicitation Information Gathering Plan Relative times for elicitation activities Planning and estimating the business analysis approach and activities Planning the business analysis activities Impact of process Estimating the Product Estimating the value of the product Business analyst's role Defining and determining value Function and use case points Agile estimating Planning Poker Other agile estimating techniques Negotiating estimates Negotiation techniques Negotiation approaches Summary What did we learn, and how can we implement this in our work environment?
Business Relationship Management Fundamentals: In-House Training Business Relationship Management (BRM) Fundamentals introduces BRM as a capability, role, and discipline. What you will Learn Participants can expect an interactive and lively one-day session, with a high-level introduction to successfully navigate the complexity of BRM. Topics include: Defining BRM as a capability, role, and discipline Understanding what a BRM does and does not do Providing the language needed to change perceptions and perspectives Learn how the BRM discipline interacts with other disciplines (project management, architecture, Business Analysts, Business functions, strategy, etc.) inside an organization Basic introduction to the different frameworks, processes, and models to bring structure and guidance to BRM Introductions Why BRM? BRM defined BRM in action BRM value Reflection and next steps Resources
About this Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT) Asia Pacific is set to be the largest and fastest growing Hydrogen market globally. This growth is driven by decarbonisation of energy-use, ammonia production and rising demand of fuel cell electric vehicles. Hydrogen as a fuel has outstanding energy carrying capacity and many application possibilities ranging from Petroleum refinery, Ammonia and Methanol production, Transportation and Power generation. Although the current petrochemical market segment will remain strongest in the near future, it is the transport and power sector which spurs the vision of a massive market takeoff in the next decade. The ever-rising share of renewable energies require flexible and scalable storage solutions, which in turn offers many additional revenue streams beyond pure electricity sales. Adding to this the strong impetus towards decarbonization of the transport sector from cars, trucks, trains to ships and even airplanes creates the breed for an exciting and yet untapped market potential. This course aims to clarify and assess the hydrogen business case along its value chain and versatile market applications. Training Objectives Understanding current hydrogen market status and recent developments Major drivers and inhibitors influencing the growth of the market Understanding and comparing various production technology processes Challenges and solutions in transport, distribution and storage of hydrogen Mapping the many petrochemical, energy and transport applications Analyse business cases from around the world and understand their economics Target Audience Project developers Equipment Manufacturers Oil, Gas and Petrochemical sector companies IPPs and utilities Transport sector companies and port operators Policy makers and regulators Investors and lenders Course Level Basic or Foundation Training Methods The VILT will be delivered online in 4 half-day sessions comprising 4 hours per day, including time for lectures, discussion, quizzes and short classroom exercises. Additionally, some self-study will be requested. Participants are invited but not obliged to bring a short presentation (10mins max) on a practical problem they encountered in their work. This will then be explained and discussed during the VILT. A short test or quiz will be held at the end the course. Trainer Your expert course leader is an internationally renowned energy communicator and business educator, focused on the interconnected clean energy transition topics of renewable power, energy storage, energy system electrification and hydrogen. His own independent technology tracking, market assessment and opportunity/risk analysis is delivered to clients through a mix of business advisory work, commissioned content, small-group training (online & in-person), and one-to-one executive coaching (online). In the hydrogen sector, he is currently lead consultant and trainer to the World Hydrogen Leaders network, and writer of their 'This Week in Hydrogen' news column. He is also co-presenter of the 'New Energy Chinwag' podcast, which regularly covers hydrogen-related issues. During more than 15 years as an independent energy expert, he has helped companies from large multinationals to innovative start-ups - totalling assignments in over 30 countries across 5 continents. Most recently, he has presented clean energy training in locations as diverse as Singapore, the UK, South Africa, The Philippines, the USA, Mexico, Spain and Dubai - and, in recent times of course, online to international audiences from across the world. Prior to this, he was Research Director for over 10 years at Informa, a $9 billion business intelligence provider; where he drove new market identification, analysis and project deployment work, and managed teams in the UK and US. He has a strong science background, holding a 1st Class Honours degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, a PhD in Earth Sciences and a further Diploma in Economics & Sustainability from the UK's Open University. POST TRAINING COACHING SUPPORT (OPTIONAL) To further optimise your learning experience from our courses, we also offer individualized 'One to One' coaching support for 2 hours post training. We can help improve your competence in your chosen area of interest, based on your learning needs and available hours. This is a great opportunity to improve your capability and confidence in a particular area of expertise. It will be delivered over a secure video conference call by one of our senior trainers. They will work with you to create a tailor-made coaching program that will help you achieve your goals faster. Request for further information about post training coaching support and fees applicable for this. Accreditions And Affliations
Writing Clear Business Communication: In-House Training This program is about learning about the writing process and covers the full spectrum of documents used when corresponding in the workplace. The ability to write effectively comes naturally to some people, but for the vast majority, it is a task often approached with a mixture of trepidation and dread. Effective writing seldom, if ever, 'magically materializes' on the spot. In reality, it is most often the product of planning, writing, and rewriting. This is why writing is called a process; it must go through a series of steps before it is clear and complete. This program is about learning about the writing process and covers the full spectrum of documents used when corresponding in the workplace. The ability to write effectively comes naturally to some people, but for the vast majority, it is a task often approached with a mixture of trepidation and dread. However, the ability to communicate in the written word, for whatever purpose, is an important part of our working and personal lives and can have a direct impact on our ability to persuade, gain commitment or agreement and enhance understanding. Good writing sounds like talking on paper, which is why this program is focused on getting the message across and achieving the desired results using the 'keep it simple and direct' approach. What you Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Write effective e-mails, letters, memos, and reports Clearly articulate the message Achieve desired results from correspondence Organize content for maximum impact Format for enhanced understanding Choose the appropriate communication medium for each document Revise documents to increase clarity and impact Foundations Concepts Business writing as a form of professional communication How business writing compares to other forms of writing Characteristics of good business writing Challenges with business writing The Project Environment Business writing in the project environment The concept of art, science, and optics of business writing Art Economy Precision Action Music Personality Science Purpose, simple, compound, and complex sentence structures Techniques to engage the reader Point of view: tone, attitude, and humor Organization: opening, body, and closing Support and coherence Optics Visual optics Sound optics Feel optics Effective optics Efficient optics Email Formal vs. informal emails Suggestions for improving email communication Instant and text messaging Reports Common types of reports created Formatting of reports Guidelines for meeting minutes Contracts Types of contracts Common agreements Procurement documents Templates, Forms, and Checklists Templates Forms Checklists Other Formatting Good Documentation Practices Good documentation practices Data integrity in business communication