CBAP and BABOKCBAP and BABOK

Presented to the Albany Presented to the Albany Capital District Chapter of Capital District Chapter of

the IIBAthe IIBA

February 3, 2009February 3, 2009

Mission: To develop and maintain Mission: To develop and maintain standards for the practice of standards for the practice of business analysis and for the business analysis and for the certification of its practitionerscertification of its practitioners

The IIBA is an international non-The IIBA is an international non-profit professional association for profit professional association for business analysis professionalsbusiness analysis professionals

March 2004 March 2004 37 members37 members 2 countries (Canada & US)2 countries (Canada & US)

December 2008December 2008 7,791 members7,791 members 81 chapters81 chapters 68 countries68 countries 462 CBAP’s (Certified Business Analysis 462 CBAP’s (Certified Business Analysis

Professional)Professional)

Business AnalysisBusiness Analysis

Business Analysis is the set of tasks, Business Analysis is the set of tasks, knowledge and techniques required to identify knowledge and techniques required to identify business needs and determine solutions to business needs and determine solutions to business problems.business problems.

Solutions often include a systems development Solutions often include a systems development component, but may also consist of process component, but may also consist of process improvement or organizational change.improvement or organizational change.

International Institute of Business Analysis – Body of Knowledge International Institute of Business Analysis – Body of Knowledge (BABOK)(BABOK)

A Business Analyst works as A Business Analyst works as a liaison among stakeholders a liaison among stakeholders in order to elicit, analyze, in order to elicit, analyze, communicate, and validate communicate, and validate requirements for changes to requirements for changes to business processes, policies, business processes, policies, and information systems.and information systems.

Business Analysis Body of Business Analysis Body of KnowledgeKnowledge

The BABOK is the collection of The BABOK is the collection of knowledge within the profession of knowledge within the profession of Business Analysis and reflects generally Business Analysis and reflects generally accepted practiceaccepted practice

Describes business analysis areas of Describes business analysis areas of knowledge, their associated activities knowledge, their associated activities and tasks and the skills necessary to be and tasks and the skills necessary to be effective in their executioneffective in their execution

Provides the basis for the CBAP Provides the basis for the CBAP certificationcertification

CBAP CertificationCBAP Certification

Qualified practitioners will receive the Qualified practitioners will receive the designation – designation – Certified Business Analysis Certified Business Analysis Professional Professional (CBAP)(CBAP) This certification is designed for individuals This certification is designed for individuals

with an advanced level of knowledge and with an advanced level of knowledge and experienceexperience

The IIBA is considering a secondary The IIBA is considering a secondary certification to meet the needs of less senior certification to meet the needs of less senior Business AnalystsBusiness Analysts

Membership in the IIBA is not required to Membership in the IIBA is not required to take the certification examinationtake the certification examination

CBAPCBAP

A recognized expert in identifying A recognized expert in identifying the business needs of an the business needs of an organization in order to determine organization in order to determine business solutionsbusiness solutions

CBAPs are acknowledged as CBAPs are acknowledged as competent individuals performing a competent individuals performing a role which is increasingly recognized role which is increasingly recognized as a vital component of any as a vital component of any successful projectsuccessful project

Benefits of CBAP Benefits of CBAP CertificationCertification

Validation of skills and capabilities by a Validation of skills and capabilities by a recognized external authorityrecognized external authority

Recognition by peers and management as Recognition by peers and management as qualified and experienced to practice qualified and experienced to practice business analysisbusiness analysis

Confirmation of competence in the Confirmation of competence in the principles and practices of business analysisprinciples and practices of business analysis

Advanced career potential by creating a Advanced career potential by creating a separate and distinct career path within the separate and distinct career path within the information technology industry and information technology industry and business communitybusiness community

Certification Certification RequirementsRequirements

5 years (7,500 hours) of business analysis 5 years (7,500 hours) of business analysis work in the last 10 yearswork in the last 10 years

Demonstrated experience and expertise in Demonstrated experience and expertise in at least 4 of the 6 BABOK Knowledge at least 4 of the 6 BABOK Knowledge AreasAreas

Minimum high school diploma or Minimum high school diploma or equivalentequivalent

21 hours of BA professional development 21 hours of BA professional development in the last 4 yearsin the last 4 years

2 professional references2 professional references

Work ExperienceWork Experience

Acceptable activities include:Acceptable activities include: Hands-on business analysis activities (as Hands-on business analysis activities (as

per BABOK)per BABOK) Coaching or mentoring Business Analysts Coaching or mentoring Business Analysts

with respect to business analysis activitieswith respect to business analysis activities Development of an organization’s business Development of an organization’s business

analysis methodology and/or best practicesanalysis methodology and/or best practices Development of business analysis training Development of business analysis training

coursescourses

Work ExperienceWork Experience

Activities that will not apply include:Activities that will not apply include: Non-supervisory management of business Non-supervisory management of business

analysis activities (e.g., resource analysis activities (e.g., resource management, status reporting, performance management, status reporting, performance management, etc.)management, etc.)

Teaching business analysis training coursesTeaching business analysis training courses Selling requirements tools/softwareSelling requirements tools/software Project ManagementProject Management TestingTesting ProgrammingProgramming

Knowledge AreasKnowledge Areas

Enterprise AnalysisEnterprise Analysis Requirements Planning and Requirements Planning and

ManagementManagement Requirements ElicitationRequirements Elicitation Requirements Analysis and Requirements Analysis and

DocumentationDocumentation Requirements Communication Requirements Communication Solution Assessment and ValidationSolution Assessment and Validation

Professional Professional DevelopmentDevelopment

Directly related to business analysis Directly related to business analysis or its underlying fundamentalsor its underlying fundamentals

IIBA endorsed education provider IIBA endorsed education provider courses qualify – note if EEP coursecourses qualify – note if EEP course

IIBA will review course outline to IIBA will review course outline to determine if other courses qualifydetermine if other courses qualify

Project management, programming, Project management, programming, or testing courses will not qualifyor testing courses will not qualify

ReferencesReferences

Must be provided by a:Must be provided by a: Career Manager (person who is Career Manager (person who is

responsible for your annual responsible for your annual performance review)performance review)

Internal or external clientInternal or external client Certified Business Analysis Professional Certified Business Analysis Professional

(CBAP)(CBAP)

The Certification ProcessThe Certification Process

Submit application including:Submit application including: Application form and application feeApplication form and application fee ReferencesReferences Code of Conduct formCode of Conduct form Examination fee (due at least 60 days Examination fee (due at least 60 days

prior to exam date)prior to exam date) IIBA reviews to determine if IIBA reviews to determine if

requirements are met – notifies via requirements are met – notifies via e-mail within 30 dayse-mail within 30 days

Register for ExamRegister for Exam Approved applicant has one year to Approved applicant has one year to

successfully pass the examsuccessfully pass the exam Within a month of approval, e-mail from Within a month of approval, e-mail from

Castle Worldwide with user ID and Castle Worldwide with user ID and password to register online for a test password to register online for a test center and test datecenter and test date

If exam is passed – granted CBAP If exam is passed – granted CBAP certificationcertification

If exam is not passed – may retake the If exam is not passed – may retake the exam once after three month wait if still exam once after three month wait if still within one year eligibility within one year eligibility

Current CBAP Exam Current CBAP Exam BlueprintBlueprint

Knowledge AreaKnowledge Area Percent of Percent of QuestionsQuestions

Enterprise AnalysisEnterprise Analysis 22.0%22.0%

Requirements Planning and Requirements Planning and ManagementManagement

22.7%22.7%

Requirements ElicitationRequirements Elicitation 18.7%18.7%

Requirements Analysis and Requirements Analysis and DocumentationDocumentation

20.7%20.7%

Requirements Requirements CommunicationCommunication

10.7%10.7%

Solution Assessment and Solution Assessment and ValidationValidation

5.2%5.2%

Certification FeesCertification Fees

Initial feesInitial fees $125 application fee that is non-$125 application fee that is non-

refundablerefundable $325 exam fee for IIBA members$325 exam fee for IIBA members $450 exam fee for non-members$450 exam fee for non-members

Rewrite feesRewrite fees $250 for IIBA members$250 for IIBA members $375 for non-members$375 for non-members

RecertificationRecertification

Recertification is required every 3 Recertification is required every 3 yearsyears

Require 60 Continuing Development Require 60 Continuing Development Units (CDUs) to recertifyUnits (CDUs) to recertify

Renewal fee - $85 for IIBA members Renewal fee - $85 for IIBA members and $120 for non-membersand $120 for non-members

Latest DevelopmentsLatest Developments

IIBA is piloting an online application IIBA is piloting an online application process which includes payment of the process which includes payment of the application fee - plans are to launch the application fee - plans are to launch the process in Marchprocess in March

BABOK v2 expected to be released in MarchBABOK v2 expected to be released in March Plans are to begin working on the next Plans are to begin working on the next

version of the CBAP exam in March or April version of the CBAP exam in March or April 20092009

New Career Center on IIBA website for job New Career Center on IIBA website for job seekers and employersseekers and employers

BABOK v2 Knowledge BABOK v2 Knowledge AreasAreas

Business Analysis Planning and Business Analysis Planning and MonitoringMonitoring

EnterprEnterpriseise

AnalysisAnalysis

ElicitatiElicitationon

RequiremeRequirementsnts

AnalysisAnalysis

SolutionSolution

AssessmeAssessmentnt

& & ValidationValidation

Requirements Management and Requirements Management and CommunicationCommunication

Underlying CompetenciesUnderlying Competencies

BABOKBABOK

Identifies currently accepted practicesIdentifies currently accepted practices Recognizes business analysis is not Recognizes business analysis is not

synonymous with software synonymous with software requirementsrequirements

Defined and enhanced by the Defined and enhanced by the professionals who apply itprofessionals who apply it

Captures the sum of the knowledge Captures the sum of the knowledge required for the practice of business required for the practice of business analysis as a professionanalysis as a profession

What the BABOK is NOTWhat the BABOK is NOT

It is NOT a methodology nor does it It is NOT a methodology nor does it prescribe or favor a methodologyprescribe or favor a methodology

It is NOT a “how to” business It is NOT a “how to” business analysis instruction manualanalysis instruction manual

TasksTasks

Applicable to all business analysis Applicable to all business analysis effortsefforts ““Necessary” components of business Necessary” components of business

analysisanalysis May be executed as often as necessaryMay be executed as often as necessary Consistently defined inputs and outputsConsistently defined inputs and outputs

TechniquesTechniques

Cover different methodologies or Cover different methodologies or approachesapproaches BPM (business process management), BPM (business process management),

Agile, Iterative, waterfall, etc.Agile, Iterative, waterfall, etc. Usage depends on the purposeUsage depends on the purpose Understand when techniques are Understand when techniques are

appropriateappropriate

Example Task & Example Task & TechniquesTechniques

Task: Conduct Elicitation ActivityTask: Conduct Elicitation Activity

Techniques:Techniques: BrainstormingBrainstorming Requirements WorkshopRequirements Workshop InterviewInterview PrototypingPrototyping Etc.Etc.

Future PlansFuture Plans

Publication of BABOK v2Publication of BABOK v2 Release of electronic copy in late March Release of electronic copy in late March

20092009 Free for IIBA members, nonmembers Free for IIBA members, nonmembers

will be chargedwill be charged IIBA is investigating print optionsIIBA is investigating print options

Future editions – expected every five Future editions – expected every five yearsyears

Knowledge SharingKnowledge Sharing

Suman Akula has successfully Suman Akula has successfully completed his application to sit for completed his application to sit for the CBAP exam and is willing to the CBAP exam and is willing to answer questions about his answer questions about his experienceexperience

Is there anyone else here who has Is there anyone else here who has completed or is in the process of completed or is in the process of applying to take the exam?applying to take the exam?