BA Chapter 3: Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring

The following are the five main key concepts of the chapter summarized in quick understanding:

1.    Plan Business Analysis Approach:

Purpose: The purpose of Plan Business Analysis Approach is to define an appropriate method to conduct business analysis activities

Inputs: the business analysis approach is shaped by the problem or opportunity faced by the organization

Elements:

·       Planning Approach

·       Formality and Level of Detail of Business Analysis

·       Business Analysis Activities

·       Timing of Business Analysis Work

·       Complexity and Risk

·        Acceptance

Guidelines and Tools:  The business analysis approach should include information about how and when tasks will be performed. The business analysis approach may align the goals, coordinate the business analysis tasks, include tasks to manage any risks and select techniques and tools.

Techniques:

·       Business Cases:  used to understand whether elements of the problem or opportunity are especially time-sensitive, high-value, or whether there is any particular  uncertainty around elements of the possible need or solution.

·       Brainstorming:  used to identify possible business analysis activities, techniques, risks and other relevant items to help build the business analysis approach.

·       Item Tracking:  used to track any issues raised during planning activities with stakeholders. Can also track risk related items raised during discussions when building the approach.

              

Outputs: :  identifies the business analysis approach and activities that will be performed across an initiative including who will perform the activities, the timing and sequencing of the work, the deliverables that will be produced and the business analysis techniques that may be utilized. 

2.  Plan Stakeholder Engagement:

Purposes: The purpose of Plan Stakeholder Engagement is to plan an approach for establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with the stakeholders.

Inputs: incorporating the overall business analysis approach into the stakeholder analysis, collaboration, and communication approaches is necessary to ensure consistency across the approaches

Attitudes:  Business analysts analyze stakeholder attitudes about

• business goals, objectives of the initiative, and any proposed solutions,

• business analysis in general,

• the level of interest in the change,

• the sponsor,

• team members and other stakeholders, and

• collaboration and a team-based approach.

Level of Power or Influence:   Understanding the nature of influence and the influence structures and channels within an organization can prove invaluable when seeking to build relationships and trust. Understanding the influence and attitude each stakeholder may have can help develop strategies for obtaining buy-in and collaboration

               Stakeholder Communication Needs:

• what needs to be communicated,

•       what is the appropriate delivery method

• who the appropriate audience is,

• when communication should occur,

Outputs:   contains a list of the stakeholders, their characteristics which were analyzed, and a listing of roles and responsibilities for the change. It also identifies the collaboration and communication approaches the business analyst will utilize during the initiative.

3.  Plan Business Analysis Governance:

Purpose : The purpose of Plan Business Analysis Governance is to define how decisions are made about requirements and designs, including reviews, change control, approvals, and prioritization.

Change Control Process:  

·       Determine the process for requesting changes: specify which requirements and designs the change control process covers and determine whether it applies to all changes or only to changes of a specific size, cost, or level of effort.

·       Determine how changes will be documented: configuration management and traceability standards establish product baselines and version control practices that identify which baseline is affected by the change.

·       Determine who will authorize changes: include a designation of who can approve changes and what business analysis information their authority covers.

4.  Plan Business Analysis Information Management

Purpose: The purpose of Plan Business Analysis Information Management is to develop an approach for how business analysis information will be stored and accessed.

Requirements Attributes:  Some commonly used requirements attributes include

• Absolute reference: provides a unique identifier. The reference is not altered or reused if the requirement is moved, changed, or deleted.

 • Author: provides the name of the person who needs to be consulted should the requirement later be found to be ambiguous, unclear, or in conflict.

 • Complexity: indicates how difficult the requirement will be to implement.

• Ownership: indicates the individual or group that needs the requirement or will be the business owner after the solution is implemented.

• Priority: indicates relative importance of requirements. Priority can refer to the relative value of a requirement or to the sequence in which it will be implemented.

5.  Identify Business Analysis Performance Improvements

Purposes: The purpose of Identify Business Analysis Performance Improvements is to assess business analysis work and to plan to improve processes where required.

Stakeholders:  

·       Domain Subject Matter Experts: should be informed about the business analysis activities in order to set expectations regarding their involvement in the work and to elicit their feedback regarding possible improvements to the approach.

 • Project Manager: is accountable for the success of a project and must be kept informed of the current status of business analysis work. If potential problems or opportunities for improvement are identified, the project manager must be consulted before changes are implemented to assess whether those changes will have an impact on the project. They may also deliver reports on business analysis performance to the sponsor and other stakeholders.

• Sponsor: may require reports on business analysis performance to address problems as they are identified. A manager of business analysts may also sponsor initiatives to improve the performance of business analysis activities