Business Analysis Techniques

you can never have too many tools

Paul Turner

Edinburgh 12th April 2012

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/1

 Business analysis - definitions

An internal consultancy role responsible for investigating business

situations, identifying and evaluating options for implementation
business systems, defining requirements and ensuring the effective
use of information systems in meeting the needs of the business.
Business Analysis 2nd Ed., Debra Paul and Donald Yeates (eds), BCS, 2010

The methodical investigation, analysis, review and documentation of

all or part of a business in terms of business functions and processes,
the information used and the data on which the information is based.
The definition of requirements for improving any aspect of the
processes and systems and the quantification of potential business
benefits. The creation of viable specifications and acceptance criteria
in preparation for the construction of information and communication
systems.
SFIA v5.0, 2011

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/2

 An alternative definition

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/3

The breadth of Business Analysis ?

Strategic analysis

Business analysis

Business case

Requirements engineering

Solution development

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/4

 The breadth of Business Analysis ?
Business Architecture
Strategic analysis

Business analysis Systems Thinking

Business case
Solution Architecture

Requirements engineering

Solution development

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Agile development Business Analysis Techniques/5

 BA techniques in context

Context

Rationale
+ Lifecycle
+ Roles
+ Deliverables

Techniques

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/6

 BA techniques in context

Context

Rationale
+ Lifecycle
+ Roles
+ Deliverables

Techniques

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/7

 Some business analysis techniques

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/8

 Some business analysis techniques
Critical success factors
Context diagram
Rich picture
Function hierarchy
Network architecture plan
Workflow diagram
Organisation chart
Entity relationship model (high-
level)
Business process model
High-level data flow diagram
Business object model
Use case diagram
Use case description
Technical architecture model
Functional dependency
diagram
Business scenario modelling
Task analysis
Business event model
Business roles definition
Logical data model
Class model
Relational data analysis
Website navigation model
Process dependency modelling
Object interaction /
collaboration diagram
Object role models
User conceptual model
User interface object model
Screen navigation design
System event modelling
State transition diagram
State machine diagram
Object dynamic model

SWOT Event analysis Process streamlining

PESTLE Payback calculation Business process redesign
Five Forces DCF/NPV calculation Interviewing
Power/interest grid Internal rate of return Workshops
MOST Benefits management Questionnaires
Resource audit Benefits realisation Document analysis
BCG matrix User acceptance testing Record searching
Balanced business scorecard Swimlane diagrams Special-purpose records
Key performance indicators Business process Activity sampling
CATWOE reengineering Work measurement
Business activity modelling Business process management Prototyping

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/9

 More business analysis techniques

Give up yet? Aargh!

Brainstorming Cost/benefit analysis
Round-robin Impact analysis
Columns and clusters Gap analysis
Bodyguards and assassins Standard costing
Vernissage Marginal costing
Talking wall Absorption costing
Force-field analysis Ratio analysis
Greenfield site MoSCoW
Transporter Organisation diagram
Prioritisation Report writing
Time beam Presentation techniques

And even then people said Youve missed .

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/10

 The role of the business analyst

Investigating
the situation Analysing
strategy

Modelling
business
processes

Stimulating
thinking

Developing
Business
Specifying business
analyst
information case
systems

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/11

 Investigating the situation
Questionnaires <<extend>>

Interviewing

<<extend>>

Workshops

Special-purpose
records

<<extend>> <<extend>>

Activity sampling
<<extend>>

Work
measurement
Business Record
searching
analyst <<extend>>

Document
analysis

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/12

 Analysing strategy

Five forces

PESTLE

<<extend>>
<<extend>>

MOST
<<extend>>

SWOT

<<extend>>
Resource
<<extend>> audit
Business
analyst
CATWOE

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/13

 Developing a business case
Benefits Benefits
realisation management DCF/NPV
Impact
<<extend>> analysis
<<extend>>
<<extend>>
IRR
<<extend>>
<<extend>>
Report writing
<<extend>>
Cost/benefit
<<extend>>
analysis Payback
<<extend>>
calculation

Business Presentation
<<extend>> <<extend>>
analyst techniques
Ratio analysis
<<extend>>
Marginal
costing <<extend>>
<<extend>> Standard
costing
Absorption
Gap analysis
costing

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/14

 Finding reasons not to

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/15

 Selecting techniques
The situation:
How much time?
How much money?
How good a job?
Local standards!
The users:
Technical literacy
Patience
Decisiveness
The business analyst:
Personality
Preferences
Knowledge
Experience

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/16

 Selecting techniques

Type - hard, soft

Usage - analysis, modelling, communication

Audience - shared, private

Documentation - core, support

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/17

 Mastering techniques (1)

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/18

 Mastering techniques (2)

Networking

Work
Experience

Private
study
Courses
Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/19
 A basic toolkit

Business
Strategy Investigate Consider Analyse Evaluate Define Manage
and Situation Perspectives Needs options Requirements Change
Objectives

PESTLE Rich pictures Stakeholder Gap analysis Feasibility Scenarios Cultural web
Management Analysis
MOST Interviews Value chain Storyboarding Learning cycle
CATWOE Analysis Impact
SWOT Workshops Analysis Prototyping SARAH
PARADE
Organisation
Resource Audit Context diagrams Diagraming Investment MoSCoW Benefits
BAMs Appraisal Realisation
POP-IT model
Process Modelling
RASCI Business Timeboxing
CRUD Matrix case

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/20

Business Analysis Techniques The first eleven
CATWOE
Use case diagrams

Swimlane diagrams

Workshops

Organisation diagram
Interviewing

Scenario analysis
Mind maps
SWOT

Cost-benefit analysis Prioritisation

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/21

From: Business Analysis Techniques 72 essential Tools for Success Cadle, Paul and Turner (2010)
 So why not try
some out
for yourself!

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/22

Guiding principles for business analysis

Root causes: not symptoms

Business improvement: not IT system change
Creative options: not prescribed solutions
Feasible requirements: not all suggestions
Entire lifecycle: not just requirements definition
Negotiation: not conflict avoidance
Business agility: not business perfection

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/23

 BA of the Year Award 2012

Will be presented at the Business Analysis Conference

Europe in London on 25th September 2012

Five finalists get free entry to the Conference from 24 th to

26th September 2012

Application form from: chris.martin@assistkd.com

Closing date for entries: 20th July 2012

Award sponsored by:

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/24

 Business Analysis Techniques
you can never have too many tools
Paul Turner

paul.turner@assistkd.com

Assist Knowledge Development, 2012 Business Analysis Techniques/25