Business Analysis

methods, fads and fashions

Guy Beauchamp Business Analyst Solutions Stand 63
Business Analyst Solutions 2007

1. make the case for undertaking Business Analysis

The Top 6 Reasons Projects Fail The Standish Group Chaos Report (1994)
365 executive managers 8,380 applications all major industry segments including: banking, retail and wholesale.
Business Analyst Solutions 2007 Some of the contents of this slide were taken from www.it-cortex.com

1. make the case for undertaking Business Analysis

Business Analysis Proverbs

Delivery is not the best time to analyse requirements Urban Wisdom

A factor present in every successful project and absent in every unsuccessful project is sufficient attention to requirements. Suzanne & James Robertson Requirements-Led Project Management

Business Analyst Solutions 2007

1. make the case for undertaking Business Analysis

What is sufficient attention to requirements? (I)

Average actual effort spent on each stage of the development cycle*
70 60 50
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40
30 20

10
0

Requirements Analysis

Design

Code/test

*based on a study by Staffordshire University

1. make the case for undertaking Business Analysis

What is sufficient attention to requirements? (II)

Average Proportion of Errors Built in During Development*
90
Business Analyst Solutions 2007

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Requirements Analysis

Design
*based on a study by James Martin

Code/test

1. make the case for undertaking Business Analysis

What is sufficient attention to requirements? (III)

Relative Cost of Correcting Requirements Errors*

*sourced from Barry Boehm

Business Analyst Solutions 2007

1. make the case for undertaking Business Analysis

How Much Poor Analysis can Cost*

Half of all bugs can be traced to requirement errors fixing these errors consumes 75% of project rework costs
Business Analyst Solutions 2007

CONTRIBUTING TO: The average project exceeds its planned schedule by 120% 52.7% of projects will cost 189% of their original estimate Only 16.2% of projects will be completed on time & on budget 30% of projects are cancelled before completion

*Source: Calculating your return on investment from more effective requirements management IBM article Dec 2003

1. make the case for undertaking Business Analysis

Summary
Business Analyst Solutions 2007

The typical project expends least effort on analysis which is where most errors originate and whose errors cost most to fix!

2. debunk Business Analysis

Definition of terms for Business Analysis

Business: <whatever> Analysis: the process of breaking a concept down into more simple parts, so that its logical structure is displayed (OED) a : an examination of a complex, its elements, and their relations b : a statement of such an analysis (Merriam Webster)
Business Analyst Solutions 2007

2. debunk Business Analysis

Scope of analysis of change

Process Organisation Location Data Application Technology Non-functional
Business Analyst Solutions 2007

ANALYSIS of change requirements

2. debunk Business Analysis

Chain Of Reasoning
Driver/ Vision

{black holes of failure}

Objective

Requirement

Requirements must be assumed to be wrong until they are proved to be right

Business Analyst Solutions 2007

2. debunk Business Analysis

-Links-in-the-Chain-Of-ReasoningDriver
Addressed by

Key Many One

Vision
Achieved as measured by

Deliverable
Contributes to

Objective

Delivered through

Benefit
Delivered by

Requirement
Enforces

Delivers

Requirement Benefit

Requirement Business Rule

Enforces

Business Rule

Business Analyst Solutions 2007

3. make the case for a pragmatic and practical analysis of business changes

When & Where are Business Analysts involved and how do they help?
There is a chain of reasoning that leads from the statement of a problem to the implementation of solutions

Owners
defines measures of success and targets Business Analysts confirm & document

involving up to
Mone y!

10 groups of people

Strategists Sponsors
establish a Programme that delivers the strategy Business Analysts document Programme TOR and build the Business Case determine the strategy to hit the targets Business Analysts help do market research, create strategy, challenge & document

Programme Managers
Institute Projects that implement the programme Business Analysts document the Project TOR

Project Stakeholders
Business Analysts specify requirements for Projects (in the Business Model)

Design Analysts
design solution that satisfies the requirements Business Analysts protect requirements & document compromises

Solution Builders
build solution Business Analysts protect requirements & document compromises

Solution Builders & Business

test solution Business Analysts ensure tested against requirements

Project managers
Implement solution Business Analysts help with -Process and data migration -Cutover planning -Rollout

Users
Accept solution Business Analysts help with

-MEASURING BENEFITS REALISATION

POST-IMPLEMENTATION Business Analysts feed back to the Owner how well their measure of success has been achieved

Business Analyst Solutions 2007

3. make the case for a pragmatic and practical analysis of business changes

If
If you can map all your analysis to components in the Chain of Reasoning If there are no gaps AND no breaks in the chain If those who can kill your project agree with your analysis Then your analysis is correct and whats more you are a Business Analyst my son. Sorry Rudyard!
Business Analyst Solutions 2007

and finally the secrets of doing Business Analysis

1. Agree the analysis method and approach you will use 2. Get some trained Business Analysts 3. Plan how, when and who to do the analysis 4. Do the analysis 5. Use the analysis products to develop and implement the solutions 6. Er thats it.
Business Analyst Solutions 2007

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So Business Analysis is needed what next?

There are a number of steps to take to establish an operational Business Analysis function:

Design the B.A. Function

Recruit the B.A. Function

Train the B.A. Function

Equip the B.A. Function

Monitor and Support the BA Function

Business Analyst Solutions 2007

How can BA Solutions help?

Design of the Business Analysis function
Design the B.A. Function

Terms of reference Business Analyst Profile

Recruitment of permanent and contract analysts

Recruit the B.A. Function

Training courses for analysts

Train the B.A. Function

Fundamentals of Business Analysis Process Modeling Data Modeling Introduction to Testing BPMN ISEB accreditation Essential Skills for Business Analysts Workshop Facilitation Conflict resolution Strategic Thinking

Equip the B.A. Function

CASE tool recommendation - independent

Assessment of requirements Recommendations and benefits assessment

Monitor and Support for analysts

Monitor and Support the BA Function

Phone and email post training Refresher training Mentoring Q/A reviews of analysis deliverables

Business Analyst Solutions 2007

Source candidates internally and externally Qualify CVs Interview conduct them or just assist with them Assessment centres Manage contracted analysts placed by BAS

Who Are BA Solutions?

BAS are highly experienced Business Analysts We have extensive practical experience in a wide range of industry sectors including retail, banking, utilities, software houses
Business Analyst Solutions 2007

We have worked in IT departments and within Businesses at every level from Majority Shareholder/Owner to Managing Director to shop floor workers average satisfaction score for delivered services is 92%!
(Source: Client feedback forms)

and what is the BA Solutions mission?

To support the whole Business Analyst life cycle and provide whatever services clients need in order to set up and run a Business Analyst function.

BA Solutions Just some of our Clients

Christian Aid D S Data Training Ltd Diligenta Ltd Hewitts Ltd HSBC KPMG Littlewoods Shop Direct Group Plc Network Rail Norwich Union O2 Otto Plc Scottish Water Suffolk County Council The Law Society Transport For London Zurich International Solutions Ltd
Business Analyst Solutions 2007

Thank you for your time. If you would like to discuss anything further, please contact BA Solutions
web: mail: phone: address: www.BusinessAnalystSolutions.com Guy@BA-Solutions.co.uk 0845 166 2161 6 Mickle Gate, Peterborough, PE3 6SU

Business Analyst Solutions 2007

Business Analyst Solutions 2007

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