1.1 Role of a Business Analyst

  – Overview of business analysis.

  – Understanding the responsibilities of a BA.

  – Differences between business analysis and project management.

1.2 The BA Skill Set

  – Analytical thinking and problem-solving.

  – Communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

  – Soft skills required for stakeholder engagement.

1.3 Business Analysis Process Framework

  – Introduction to BABOK® (Business Analysis Body of Knowledge) guide.

  – Phases of business analysis: Initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closing.

2.1 Defining Business Analysis Approach

  – Developing a business analysis approach based on project needs.

  – Identifying key stakeholders and determining stakeholder roles.

2.2 Identifying Stakeholders and Stakeholder Engagement

  – Techniques for stakeholder identification.

  – Managing stakeholder expectations.

  – Tools for stakeholder analysis (e.g., RACI matrix, stakeholder mapping).

2.3 Establishing Performance Metrics for BA Activities

  – Setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for business analysis tasks.

  – Techniques for monitoring BA performance and progress.

3.1 Gathering and Documenting Requirements

  – Different types of requirements (functional, non-functional, technical).

  – Elicitation techniques: Interviews, workshops, brainstorming, surveys.

  – Best practices for requirements documentation.

3.2 Creating Effective Business Requirements Documents (BRD)

  – Structure and components of a BRD.

  – Using clear and unambiguous language.

  – Validating and reviewing requirements with stakeholders.

3.3 Elicitation Tools and Techniques

  – User stories, use cases, and process mapping.

  – Context diagrams, wireframes, and workflow diagrams.

  – Requirement traceability matrices (RTM).

4.1 Introduction to Business Process Modeling

  – Understanding business processes and their importance.

  – Tools for modeling business processes (e.g., BPMN, flowcharts).

4.2 Techniques for Business Process Analysis

  – As-is vs. to-be process analysis.

  – Identifying process improvements and areas for optimization.

  – Using value stream mapping and SIPOC diagrams.

4.3 Case Study: Process Improvement

  – Applying process analysis techniques to a real-world business scenario.

  – Documenting findings and recommendations for process improvement.

5.1 Analyzing and Structuring Requirements

  – Techniques for categorizing and structuring requirements.

  – Ensuring completeness, consistency, and feasibility of requirements.

5.2 Prioritizing Requirements

  – Prioritization techniques (MoSCoW, RICE, Weighted Scoring).

  – Engaging stakeholders in the prioritization process.

  – Managing changing priorities throughout the project lifecycle.

5.3 Managing Requirements Risk

  – Identifying risks related to requirements gathering and implementation.

  – Strategies for mitigating requirement-related risks.

6.1 Evaluating Potential Solutions

  – Techniques for solution evaluation (prototyping, feasibility analysis).

  – Criteria for evaluating business solutions (cost, time, scalability).

  – Preparing solution assessment reports.

6.2 Validating Requirements and Solutions

  – Ensuring alignment between business requirements and solutions.

  – Validating solutions with stakeholders through user acceptance testing (UAT).

  – Gathering feedback and implementing necessary changes.

6.3 Change Management and Business Readiness

  – Preparing the business for solution implementation.

  – Training and onboarding stakeholders on the new system or process.

  – Techniques for effective change management.

7.1 Basics of Data Analysis for Business Analysts

  – Introduction to data analysis and its role in business decision-making.

  – Types of data: Qualitative vs. quantitative.

  – Data visualization techniques (charts, dashboards, reports).

7.2 Tools for Data Analysis

  – Overview of data analysis tools (Excel, Power BI, Tableau).

  – Collecting, organizing, and analyzing data to identify trends and patterns.

7.3 Case Study: Data-Driven Decision Making

  – Using data analysis to support a business decision.

  – Presenting data insights to stakeholders using reports and visualizations.

8.1 Introduction to Agile Methodology

  – Overview of Agile principles and values.

  – The role of a Business Analyst in Agile projects.

  – Differences between Agile and Waterfall approaches.

8.2 Agile Tools and Techniques

  – Writing user stories and acceptance criteria.

  – Working with product backlogs and managing sprints.

  – Using Agile tools like JIRA, Trello, and Confluence.

8.3 Collaboration in Agile Teams

  – Engaging with cross-functional teams (developers, testers, product owners).

  – Facilitating Agile ceremonies (daily standups, sprint reviews).

  – Managing changing requirements in Agile projects.

9.1 Effective Communication for Business Analysts

  – Best practices for clear and concise communication.

  – Tailoring communication to different stakeholders (technical vs. non-technical).

  – Presentation techniques for delivering business insights.

9.2 Conflict Resolution and Negotiation

  – Identifying potential conflicts during business analysis.

  – Techniques for resolving conflicts and reaching consensus.

  – Negotiation strategies to manage stakeholder expectations.

9.3 Building Strong Stakeholder Relationships

  – Strategies for building trust and rapport with stakeholders.

  – Managing difficult stakeholders.

  – Ensuring long-term engagement and satisfaction.

10.1 Capstone Project: End-to-End Business Analysis Case

  – Conducting an end-to-end business analysis for a real-world project.

  – Eliciting and documenting requirements, process modeling, and solution assessment.

  – Presenting the final project to stakeholders for feedback.

10.2 Resume Writing and Interview Preparation

  – Crafting a business analyst resume tailored to job descriptions.

  – Preparing for common BA interview questions (behavioral and technical).

  – Mock interviews with feedback for improvement.