The Enterprise

Business Analyst

DEVELOPING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS

TO COMPLEX BUSINESS PROBLEMS

KATHLEEN B. HASS, PMP

Contents

Preface
Introduction
The Looming Storm
The Enterprise Business Analyst
Unleashing the Creative Potential of the Business Analyst
Building a Corps of Creative Leaders
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean to the Business Analyst?
Part I Insights into the Profession of Business Analysis
Chapter 1 The Heart of the MatterAn Examination of the Profession of Business Analysis
Defining Business Analysis
Codifying Business Analysis
Certifying Business Analysts
The Business Analyst Competency Model
Building a Mature Business Analysis Practice

The Business Analyst Role: Both Tactical and Strategic

Business Analysis in Practice
A Business Analysis Practice Maturity Model
Collaborative Leadership
The Business Analysts Key Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies
Building a Capable Business Analyst Workforce
Positioning the Business Analyst in an Organization
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean to the Business Analyst?
Chapter 2 The Business Analysts Strategic Role
Strategic Planning
Enterprise Analysis
Planning and Requirements Elicitation
Requirements Analysis and Specification
Requirements Documentation
Requirements Validation
Requirements Management
Managing Changes to Requirements
Managing Transitional Requirements
Managing Cultural Changes
Maintaining and Enhancing the Solution
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean to the Business Analyst?
Chapter 3 The Adaptive Business Analyst
Agility
Iteration
Scalability
The Recipe for Project Success
Unavoidable Challenges

Using Different Management Approaches

The Best Business Analysis Practices for Low-Complexity Projects
The Best Business Analysis Practices for Moderately Complex
Projects
The Best Business Analysis Practices for Highly Complex Projects,
Programs, and Megaprojects
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean to the Business Analyst?
Part II Unlocking the Secrets of Creative Leadership
Chapter 4 Creative Leadership: Whats All the Fuss About?
21st-Century Leadership
21st-Century Organizational Change
Management versus Leadership: Who Has the Power?
The Genius of Shared Leadership
The Business Analyst as Project Leader
The Business Analyst as Change Agent
The Business Analyst as Visionary
The Business Analyst as Credible Leader
Creative Leadership
Thinking Outside the Building
Becoming a Creative Leader
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean to the Business Analyst?
Chapter 5 Fostering Team Creativity: The Business Analysts Sweet
Spot
Effective Teams
The Power of Teams
The Stages of Team Development
Leadership Modes through the Stages of Team Development

Best Team Leadership Practices for the Business Analyst

Creativity: A Right-Brain Pursuit
Getting There: From Ad Hoc Group to Working Group to Creative
Team
The Innovation Imperative
Innovation Is a Team Sport
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean to the Business Analyst?
Chapter 6 Igniting Creativity in Complex Distributed Teams
What Makes Large, Distributed Teams Complex?
Fostering Creativity When Leading Distributed Teams
Great Teams: Youll Know Them When You See Them
Decision-Making on Distributed Teams
Using Virtual Teams as a Strategic Advantage
Managing Distributed Teams with a Light Touch
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean to the Business Analyst?
Chapter 7 Creativity-Inducing Facilitation
The Nuts and Bolts of Creative Facilitation
Facilitated Meetings, Working Sessions, and Workshops
The Power of the Agenda
Problem-Solving Methods That Foster Creativity
First Create, Then Innovate
Divergent Thinking: Generate Creative Ideas
Convergent Thinking: Analyze, Refine, Prioritize, Decide
Innovate!
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean to the Business Analyst?
Chapter 8 Creatively Eliciting and Evolving Breakthrough Require-

ments
Running Powerful Meetings
Preparing for a Meeting
Starting the Meeting
Facilitating the Meeting
Facilitating Virtual Meetings
Tools for Process Improvement Sessions
Tools for Analysis Sessions
Question and Answer Sessions
Evaluating the Meeting
Closing the Meeting
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean to the Business Analyst?
PART III Strategies to Foster Innovation
Chapter 9 Developing Products for Competitive Advantage
Systems Thinking
Best Practices for Innovative Product Development
What Makes Innovation Projects Complex?
Adaptive Management Approaches
Complexity Management Technologies
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean to the Business
Analyst?
Chapter 10 Synergies that Foster Innovation
Standout Companies Have Paved the Way
Transforming Projects into Hotbeds of Creativity
Applying Complexity Thinking to Manage Projects
Fostering a Creative Project Team Environment
Executing Strategies through Valuable Portfolios
Establishing Project Support Offices and Centers of Excellence

Where Is the BA Profession Heading?

The Living Business Case: A Vehicle for Innovation and Strategy
Execution
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean to the Business Analyst?
Chapter 11 Communication and Political Management Strategies to
Enable Innovation
Assessing the Political Landscape
The Political Environment
Steer Your Steering Committee
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean for the Business
Analyst?
PART IV Innovation-Driven Business Practices
Chapter 12 How Capable Do Business Analysts Need to Be to Ignite Creativity?
The Challenge: Closing the Gap in BA Capabilities
Creative Leadership across the BA Capability Spectrum
A Business Analyst Professional Development Plan
The Applied BA Capability Assessment: A Groundbreaking ApProach
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean for the Business
Analyst?
Chapter 13 Building a Mature, Innovation-Driven Business Analysis
Practice
The Daunting Road Ahead
BA Practice Maturity Assessment
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean for the Business
Analyst?
Chapter 14 Innovation-Driven Portfolio Management

Strategic Planning
Portfolio Management Based on Innovation and Value
Portfolio Management Activities
A Benefit of Portfolio Management: Strategically Aligned Teams
Decision-Making Methodology for Project Selection
The Role of the Enterprise Project Management Office/Center of
Excellence in Portfolio Management
Executive Seminar
Planning for the Implementation of Portfolio Management
Portfolio Assessment and Prioritization
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean for the Business
Analyst?
Chapter 15 The Business Analysis Center of Excellence: The
Cornerstone of Business Transformation and Innovation
How Companies Are Using Centers of Excellence
The Scope of the BACOE
The Innovation-Driven BACOE
BACOE Organizational Alignment Considerations
BACOE Organizational Maturity Considerations
BACOE Implementation Considerations
BACOE Implementation Best Practices
Putting It All Together: What Does This Mean for the Business
Analyst?
Suggested Reading
Index