strategic business analysis · strategic business analysis “strategic business analysis is key to...

Strategic Business Analysis

“Strategic Business Analysis is key

to improving business outcomes. It enables organizations to

efficiently move from strategy to successful project execution.”

Stuart Houlahan, CBAP, ITIL

Strategic Business Analyst

Portfolio Manager

Project Manager

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Why am I presenting about strategy?

http://www.thestrategicba.com/

• Pre-Project Planning• Outcome focused analysis• Feasibility studies• Solution gap analysis• …The first piece of a puzzle

• Post-Project Analysis• Project completion analysis &

documentation• …The final piece of the puzzle

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[email protected]

http://www.thestrategicba.com/

mailto:[email protected]

• What we deliver?

• How much will it cost?

• When it will be delivered?

• Whether the end result satisfies the true business need?

How do we successfully predict…

“Tell me what you NEED… not what you WANT” 5

The evolving role of the Business Analyst

• BA’s are being brought into the pre-project discussions earlier than before; allowing us to perform the level of detailed analysis required for success.

• Project Management Institute

• PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)®

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Begin Strategic Analysis as early as possible

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Requirements Analysis, Design, ExecutionConcept, Initiation

Requirements Analysis, Design, ExecutionConcept, Initiation, Strategic Analysis

Characteristics of a Strategic Business Analyst

• Excels at critical and analytical thinking

• Builds on corporate strategy

• Utilizes an iterative, outcome focused approach

• Creates crystal clear project scope documents

• Conducts in-depth solution analysis

• Delves deep into internal and the external needs

Characteristics of a Strategic Business Analyst (continued)

• Re-purposes tools & techniques from the BABOK

• Understands the problems and the motivations

• Develops detailed holistic GAP analysis

• Confirms findings with Feasibility Studies

• Strong consistent customer focus

• Communicates open and honest assessments

What problem are we trying to solve?

1. How are projects performing?

2. Aren’t there already many approaches?

3. How can a Strategic BA improve project outcomes?


1. How are projects performing?

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Chaos Report 2015: Modern Resolution

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1. How are projects performing? (continued)

Chaos Report 2015: Modern Resolution

2. Aren’t there already many approaches?

• SAFe, Prince2, Six Sigma, Lean Management, Lean Six Sigma, Agile Management, Total Quality Management, Just-In-Time, Kaizen, Hoshin Planning

• Doesn’t PMI do this?

• Project Management Professional (PMP),

• PgMP (Program Management Professional (PgMP),

• Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)

They all have their place, but no process is more valuable

than to improve Pre-Project planning.13

But what if…We apply Agile principles to Pre-Project planning ?

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2. Aren’t there already many approaches? (continued)

Choas Report 2015: Agile vs Waterfall

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3. How can a Strategic BA improve project outcomes?

Adopt a Strategic BA mindset

Develop strong executive stakeholder relationships

Strive for clarity in process diagrams

MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE

Write a compelling Project Initiation Document

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#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

Adopt a Strategic BA Mindset

• Excellent facilitator and ability to brainstorm new ideas

• Superior communication & presentation skills

• Business outcome vs project deliverable focus

• Maintain a customer centric approach

• Critical and analytical thinking

• Iterative approach & thinking

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#1

How can a Strategic BA improve project outcomes?






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#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

Develop strong executive relationships

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#2

Before the meeting…

• Book well in advance• Prepare a goal-oriented agenda• Send background materials 1 week before appointment• Have specific questions prepared• Build wide support, in advance• Plan the session, and the next…

Develop strong executive relationships (continued)

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#2

During the meeting…

• Clearly state expectations• Self-confidence is key• Be VERY well prepared, believe in your research • Have a plan, lead the discussion• Ask specific, prepared questions• Focus on business outcomes• Focus not business needs

“Tell me what you NEED… not what you WANT”

Develop strong executive relationships (continued)

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#2

After the meeting…

• Summarize discussions ASAP• Record findings & Actions• Detail next steps• Clearly show progression of investigation • Refine plans and timelines during subsequent meetings







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#1

#2

#3

#4

#5


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#3

Would you show your Executive sponsors...

Strive for clarity in process diagrams (continued)

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#3

Provide clear, easy to understand high level work flow diagrams

• Clearly state the ‘Happy Path’ and

the not–so-happy path

• Identify the impact of items not in scope

• Use diagrams as a tool to build a

cohesive story

https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/templates/process-map/high-level-process-map-template

https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/templates/process-map/high-level-process-map-template







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#1

#2

#3

#4

#5


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MoSCoW provides a way to reach a common understanding on relative importance of delivering a story or other piece of value in the product. (BABOK v3)

#4

Image: https://online.visual-paradigm.com/diagrams/templates/moscow-method/moscow-prioritization-template/

https://online.visual-paradigm.com/diagrams/templates/moscow-method/moscow-prioritization-template/

MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE (continued)

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#4

SWOT analysis can be used to:

• Evaluate an organization's current environment

• Identify the best possible solution

• Identify potential barriers to success

• Adjust and redefine plans

• Identify areas of strength

• Identify areas of weakness

Reference: IIBA BABOK v3, page 354

MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE (continued)

PEST

• Political, Economical, Social, and Technological

STEEP


PLUS Environmental

STEEPLE


PLUS Environmental

PLUS Legal and Ethical factors

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#4







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#1

#2

#3

#4

#5


Typically contain:

• Background information

• Included Scope

• Excluded Scope

• Benefits

• Cost

• Timeline

• Risks

• Roles & Responsibilities

• Project Team

• Project Control

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#5

• Base scope on your options analysis

• Clearly state:• In scope, NOT in scope, and why

• Base statements on feasibility analysis

• Use diagrams to illustrate key points

• Be BLUNT.

What is impact of delays?

How will these risks be mitigated?

Don’t simply state as an assumption that resources

will be available. What is the impact if they are not?







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#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

How is the job market?

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What are employers looking for?

A curious and tenacious nature: A self-starter motivated by learning something

new every day but also not afraid to call out what does not add up or question status quo.

You are Passionate: Ability to transform strategy & insight into compelling senior

leadership presentations… with a natural storytelling ability.

Eye for detail and a grasp of evolving market dynamics: You are able

to look at a problem from 20,000 feet and see its macro impact and at the same time be able

to dig into a large pile of data to develop your understanding at a micro level.

Outstanding communication and collaboration: The team is constantly in conversation with key

stakeholders and leaders in the organization, you are expected to have strong presentation skills, confidence in your

analysis and open minded approach to influence decision making.

A passion for market research, networking and strategic thinking: You enjoy digging deep into

research, reaching out to industry experts, getting the voice of the customer and suggesting a better way of doing

business.

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Why now, what’s different?

• Technical advancements have made possible for businesses to get huge extremely fast

• Accelerating technology (Reference book Exponential Organizations, by Salim Ismail)

• Cannot happen without technology, it drives the growth, think of: Uber; Facebook; TED; Amazon


Strategic Business Analysts are critical

• They decipher, investigate and define the new reality

• Use their analytical, investigative, and communications skills to build a high quality and focused pre-project planning documentation

• Must communicate highly complex scenarios clearly & with simplicity


Strategic BA’s uncover and articulate the true value of a project proposal. It’s the first piece of the puzzle. It must be

carefully selected and accurately placed.

• IIBA BABOK, https://www.iiba.org/

• PMI PMBOK, https://www.pmi.org/

• The Standish Group, https://www.standishgroup.com/

• Mobius, https://www.mobiusloop.com/

• Blue Ocean, https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/

• Strategyzer & the Business Model Canvas, https://www.strategyzer.com/

• 7 Elements of Strategy Execution, Mona Mitchell & David Barrett

• Exponential Organizations, by Salim Asmail

• The Age of Agile, by Stephen Denning

• Difference between SWOT, PEST, STEEP & STEEPLE Analysis http://pestleanalysis.com

• Lucidchart, https://www.lucidchart.com/

References

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https://www.iiba.org/

https://www.pmi.org/

https://www.standishgroup.com/

https://www.mobiusloop.com/

https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/

https://www.strategyzer.com/

http://pestleanalysis.com/

https://www.lucidchart.com/

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