Techniques and Tools of a Business Analyst

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the tips, do’s and don’ts for the BA in performing their roles
• List and explain the various activities, techniques and tools during different stages:
  • Understanding – Root cause analysis, 5Whys, Mindmap, interviews etc.
  • Analysis – SWOT, feasibility analysis, use cases, workflows, business rules etc.
  • Definition – User stories, scenarios, mockups, user profiles, personas etc
  • Modeling – Prototypes, wireframes, UML diagrams, Risk models, Data models
• List the different techniques useful for BAs in the data gathering activities
• Describe the use cases and application scenarios for the elicitation techniques:
  

  Interviews Workshops Observations Focus groups Prototyping Scenarios Document analysis Special purpose records Surveys/questionnaires

• List and explain the digital tools and software applications for business analysts
  • Documents, presentations and spreadsheets – Microsoft Office Suite, Apple iWork
  • UML modelling – Microsoft Visio, TogetherSoft, IBM Rational Suite
  • Prototyping and dynamic storyboards – iRise, inVision, Axure RP
  • Mindmaps – Freemind, Miro, Lucidspark, Canva
  • Wireframes and mockups – Balsamiq, Figma, Draw.io, Gliffy
  • Data modeling – ER/Studio Data Architect, Microsoft Visio, Enterprise Architect
• Specify the languages and notations used in modeling systems and processes
  • UML – Unified Modeling Language: [for systems and applications]
  • BPMN – Business Process Modeling Notation: [for processes and activities]
• Elaborate on the use cases and application scenarios for UML:
  • Applications – architecture, structure, behaviour
  • Business processes – structure, flows, tasks
  • Data – structure, model and relationships
• Mention the various diagrams in UML that BAs and teams can create:
  

  Use case diagram Activity diagram Sequence diagram State chart diagram Package diagram Class diagram Object diagram Component diagram Deployment diagram

• Define what data modelling is and explain analytics and business intelligence
• Describe the importance of estimation and prioritisation in agile projects
• List the different techniques in requirements management
• Discuss measures and metrics for implementing strategies:
  

  Critical success factors (CSF) Key performance indicators (KPI) Performance targets (PT)

• Describe the use cases for BPMN:
  

  Steps and stages in a process Start-to-end flow and sequences involved Transfer of messages amongst the process components

• Explain the myths and misconceptions in business analysis
• Elaborate on the creation of models, prototypes, wireframes and mockups in projects