bam! business analysis methodologies. change-driven or plan-driven?

BAM!

Business Analysis Methodologies

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Change-driven

or

Plan-driven?

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Plan BA Approach

Approaches include• Waterfall development• Agile techniques • Lean/Six Sigma methods • Standard / formal organizational

methodologies

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Plan –Driven Approach

Waterfall, Business Process Re-engineering

Requirements defined in advance Minimize uncertainty• Solution defined before implementation

to minimize risk and maximize control

• High risk of failure

• Formal sign-off events throughout project

• Project sponsor and advisors – approval authority for Solution requirements

• Timing of BA Activities: most at beginning

BA TASKS

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Plan-Driven

Formality&Detail

High

Requirements docs

Change Management - necessary, justified

Communications formal

• Formal Change Request Forms and procedures

All documentation archived

BA actively engaged in evaluating effects of changes on agreed solution

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Change-Driven Approach

Agile methods, Process Improvement• Rapid delivery• Risk• Solution exploratory, prototyping iterations• Formal sign-off events• Project owner ultimate approval authority

BA Activities: • High level requirements first

(envisioning, user story)• High priority requirements first

(backlog maintained)

Agile Example

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Change –Driven Approach

Formality&Detail

Low

Requirements definition interaction, feedback

Formal documentation after implementation

Change Management informal• all requirements not identified up front

Project Lifecycle has many iterations• address prioritized requirements• backlog

Stakeholders Communications frequent• Informal communication over official docs

Documentation finalized after the Solution

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BA Approach

Project Complexity

Organizational Requirements

BA WorkPlanning Process

Timing

Stakeholder Communication

Change Management

Deliverables: Formality, Detail

Requirements: Prioritization, Analysis, Management Tools

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Elements of the BA Plan

BA Approach

Stakeholder Analysis

BA Activities

Communication

Requirements Management

BA Performance Management

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Plan BA Approach

Techniques

Decision AnalysisUsed to rate available methodologies against the organizational need

Process ModelingMay be used to define and document the business analysis approach

Structured WalkthroughUsed to validate a proposed approach with stakeholders

Decision Analysis

Process Model for Business Analysis Approach

Iter

ativ

e P

roto

typ

ing

BIG

Ba

ng Develop Completesystems

requirements

Develop CompleteSystem

Specification

Develop CompleteTechnical

Specification

Develop CompleteSolution

Test CompleteSolution

ImplementComplete Solution

BrainstormInitial

Requirements

Develop aprototype for

review

Enhance InitialRequirements

Develop a refinedand agreed set of

Requirements

Develop CompleteRequirement

Iterate

When Done

Develop CompleteSystem

Specification

Develop CompleteTechnical

Specification

Develop CompleteSolution

Test CompleteSolution

ImplementComplete Solution

Plan Business Analysis ApproachProcess Modeling

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Structured Walkthrough

Participants:

Author: request walkthrough

Presenter: present agenda, product

Moderator: facilitate walkthrough

Reviewers: evaluate product

Scribe: record

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Last year

Last 5 years

Last 10 years

Your Projects

Plan-driven or change-driven

What worked well?

What could be better?

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Pros &Cons Plan-driven

Change-driven

When to employ?Documentation RequiredAssociated RiskValue Delivery

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BA APPROACHES

Discussion

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Presenter Heather Rhodes

Business Analyst

Computing & Communications

Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador

hrhodes@mun.ca

www.mun.ca/cc