COURSE OVERVIEW
Business Analysts play a vital role in helping organisations understand their business environment, define the scope of challenges, identify requirements, and design high-value solutions. They bridge the gap between strategy and execution by ensuring project goals align with stakeholder needs and business objectives.
The Essentials of Business Analysis course provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the purpose, impact, and value of business analysis. It equips learners with the skills and tools required to analyse business operations, elicit and document requirements, and support effective decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.
KEY FEATURES
This practical and engaging course will enable participants to:
- Develop a strong foundation in business analysis concepts, processes, and terminology to enhance collaboration across teams.
- Strengthen communication, problem-solving, and documentation skills to effectively define and communicate project requirements.
- Gain hands-on experience in analysing business problems, identifying solutions, and aligning them with organisational objectives.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the role, functions, and characteristics of a Business Analyst.
- Identify and document business requirements from a strategic perspective.
- Facilitate communication and bridge understanding between stakeholders.
- Clearly define and communicate project scope and objectives.
- Analyse root causes of business challenges to design impactful solutions.
- Model current and desired future business processes to verify requirements.
- Negotiate effectively with stakeholders and manage differing priorities.
- Organise, categorise, and manage project requirements efficiently.
TARGET AUDIENCE
This course is ideal for individuals new to business analysis or professionals who interact with or oversee business analysts, including:
- Business Analysts and Systems Analysts
- Business Process Owners
- Project Leaders and Team Members
- Quality Assurance Professionals
It is also beneficial for anyone seeking to strengthen their analytical thinking and problem-solving skills in a business context.
TRAINING METHODOLOGY
The program combines dynamic lectures with practical demonstrations, case studies, and hands-on exercises. Participants will develop confidence in applying business analysis techniques to real-world projects.
Both Pre- and Post-Course Assessments will be conducted to evaluate learning progress and measure the effectiveness of the training.
COURSE CONTENT
Module 1 – Business Analysis Fundamentals
Description:
Explore the evolving role of Business Analysts and gain a clear understanding of the profession’s scope, responsibilities, and emerging industry standards.
Key Topics:
- Definition and purpose of business analysis
- Core competencies and activities of the Business Analyst
- Overview of IIBA’s BABOK® Guide and PMI’s Business Analysis Practice Guide
- The business analysis lifecycle and maturity model
Module 2 – Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
Description:
Effective business analysis relies on clear communication and strong collaboration. This module develops the interpersonal and influencing skills necessary to manage stakeholder expectations and ensure alignment.
Key Topics:
- Comparing the roles of Business Analyst (BA) and Project Manager (PM)
- Stakeholder identification, analysis, and management
- Overcoming communication barriers and misinterpretations
- Eliciting, analysing, and validating requirements
- The Requirements Work Plan (RWP): structure and purpose
- Techniques for facilitation, negotiation, and conflict resolution
- Leadership and teamwork within the business analysis process
Module 3 – Analytical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Description:
This module focuses on understanding and resolving business problems at their root. Participants will explore analytical techniques to define, evaluate, and implement effective solutions.
Key Topics:
- The importance of structured problem-solving in business analysis
- Defining solution scope, symptoms, and causes
- Crafting effective problem statements
- Developing and evaluating alternative solutions
- Building business cases and assessing benefits
- Applying financial analysis and feasibility assessments
- Human factors in problem-solving and decision-making
Module 4 – Strategy Analysis and Requirements Validation
Description:
Participants will learn how to perform strategic analysis, validate requirements, and communicate findings with stakeholders to ensure alignment and consensus.
Key Topics:
- Understanding strategy analysis and the BA’s role
- Describing business environments and defining requirement scopes
- Assessing feasibility and aligning strategic objectives
- Requirements collaboration, packaging, and presentation
- Conducting formal reviews and obtaining sign-off
- Documenting and managing requirements through BRDs and specifications
Module 5 – Project Evaluation and Continuous Improvement
Description:
This module addresses evaluating project outcomes and validating whether implemented solutions meet stakeholder expectations.
Key Topics:
- Identifying stakeholders and defining project scope
- Documenting and analysing key business processes
- Eliciting and prioritising functional requirements
- Conducting strategy and evaluation analyses
- Establishing acceptance criteria and measuring solution effectiveness
- Applying lessons learned for future improvement
