What is the definition of business analysis?

The set of tasks and techniques used to work as a

liaison among stakeholders in order to understand the structure, policies and operations of an
organization, and to recommend end solutions that enable the organization to achieve its goals.
What is the definition of a business analyst? Any person who performs business analysis activities no
matter what their job title or organizational role may be.
A business analyst performs business analysis in order to do what? Align the needs of the business
units with the capabilities delivered by information technology.
What is the definition of a solution? A set of changes to the current state of an organization that are
made in order to enable that organization to meet a business need, solve a problem, or take advantage
of an opportunity.
What is the definition of a requirement? A condition or capability needed by a stakeholder to
solve a problem or achieve an objective\nOR \n::A condition or capability that must be met or possessed
by a solution or solution component to satisfy a contract, standard, specification or other formally
imposed documents\n::OR\n::A documented representation of a condition or capability
According to the BABOK 2.0, what type of analysis generates BUSINESS requirements? Enterprise
Analysis
What is a BUSINESS requirement, according to the BABOK 2.0? A high level statement of the goals or
objectives or needs of the enterprise
What is a STAKEHOLDER requirement, according to the BABOK 2.0? A statement of the needs of a
particular stakeholder or class of stakeholders
According to the BABOK 2.0, what type of analysis generates STAKEHOLDER requirements?
Requirements Analysis
What is a SOLUTION requirement, according to the BABOK 2.0? A characteristic of the solution that
meets the business requirements and stakeholder requirements.
SOLUTION Requirements are comprised of what two types of requirements? Functional and Non
functional requirements
According to the BABOK 2.0, when are SOLUTION requirements gathered? Requirements Analysis
What is a TRANSITION requirement, according to the BABOK 2.0? A requirement that describes
the capabilities the solution must have to facilitate the transition from current to future state of the
enterprise, but will not be needed after the transition
According to the BABOK 2.0, when are TRANSITION requirements gathered? Solution Assessment
and Validation
What is the definition of a knowledge area? They define what a practitioner of business analysis
needs to understand and the tasks that a practitioner must be able to perform
How many Knowledge Areas are identified in the BABOK 2.0 and what are they? There are
7:\n::Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring\n::Elicitation\n::Enterprise Analysis\n::Solution
Assessment and Validation\n::Requirements Analysis\n::Requirements Management and
Communication\n::Underlying Competencies
What is the objective of the Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring knowledge area? To show how
the BA determines which activities are necessary in order to complete a business analysis effort
What is the objective of the Elicitation knowledge area? To show how the BA works with stakeholders to
identify and understand their needs and concerns, and understand the environment in which they work
What is the purpose of elicitation? To ensure that the stakeholders underlying needs are
understood, rather than their stated or superficial desires
What is the objective of the Requirements Management and Communication knowledge area? To
define how a BA manages conflict, issues and changes in order to ensure the stakeholders and the
project team remain in agreement on the solution scope
What is the objective of the Enterprise Analysis knowledge area? To define how a BA identifies a
business need, refines and clarifies the need and defines the solution scope that can be feasibly
implemented
What is the objective of the Requirements Analysis knowledge area? To define how a BA prioritizes
and progressively elaborates stakeholder and solution requirements in order to enable the project team
to implement a solution
What is the objective of the Solution Assessment and Validation knowledge area? To define how
the BA assesses proposed solutions to determine which solution fits best the business need, indentifies
gaps in solutions, determines necessary workarounds or changes to the solution
What is the objective of the Underlying Competencies knowledge area? To describe the behaviors,
knowledge and other characteristics that support the effective performance of business analysis
What are the characteristics of a task? ::Accomplishes a result that creates value\n::Is complete\n::Is a
necessary part of the purpose of the knowledge area
True or False\n::The BA is a stakeholder in all business analysis activities? TRUE
What is the definition of a Domain Subject Matter Expert (SME) Any individual with indepth knowledge
of a topic relevant to the business need or solution scope
What is the definition of a customer? A stakeholder outside the boundary of a given organization/unit
who makes use of products/services delivered by the organization
What is the definition of an end user? A stakeholder who interacts directly with the solution
What is an Implementation Subject Matter Expert (SME) Individuals responsible for designing and
implementing potential solutions and of providing expertise in design and construction of the solution
What do Organizational Change Professionals do, according to the BABOK 2.0? They are responsible
for facilitating acceptance and adoption of new solutions and overcoming resistance to change
What's a usability professional do? A usability professional is responsible for external interaction
design of technological solutions and for making the design as simple to use as feasible
An output is the necessary result of the work described in a WHAT? Task
What is a technique? It provides additional information on different ways that a task may be
performed or forms the output of the task may take
How many underlying competencies are there and what are they? There are 6\n::Analytical
Thinking and Problem Solving\n::Behavioral Characteristics\n::Business Knowledge\n::Communication
Skills\n::Interaction Skills\n::Software Applications
What are the tasks associated with the Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring knowledge area?
There are 6\n::Conduct Stakeholder Analysis\n::Plan BA Approach\n::Plan BA Activities\n::Plan
BA Communication\n::Plan Requirements Mgmt Process\n::Manage BA Performance
What are the inputs to the Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring knowledge area tasks? There
are 5\n::Analysis performance metrics\n::Business Needs\n::Enterprise Architecture\n::Expert
Judgment\n::Organizational process assets
What are the inputs to plan the Business Analysis Approach? ::Business Need\n::Organizational
Process Assets\n::Expert Judgment
The understanding of the business need in planning the Business Analysis approach helps to determine
which approach to take. What are the two types of approaches? ::Plandriven\n::Changedriven
What are the differences between plan and changedriven analysis approaches? ::Plandriven
focuses on minimizing upfront uncertainty (risk reduction), fully defined requirements, fully detailed
documentation and controlled change.\n::Changedriven focuses rapid delivery of functionality in
iterations, higher risk, prioritized highlevel requirements that reside in a backlog, detailed
documentation only as necessary and later in the process usually after implementation, enhanced
collaboration
What are some factors that impact project complexity? ::Number of stakeholders\n::Number of
business areas affected\n::Amount and type of risk\n::Uniqueness of requirements\n::Number of tech
resources required
What are the recommended techniques to assist in planning the business analysis approach? There
are 3\n::Decision Analysis\n::Process Modeling\n::Structured Walkthrus
What is the definition of the business analysis approach? A definition of the approach that will be
taken for business analysis in a given initiative.
A business analysis approach specifies what? Roles, deliverables, analysis techniques,
timing/frequency of stakeholder interaction
Stakeholder Analysis is part of what knowledge area? Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring
What does enterprise architecture do? Describes the organizational units that exist and their
interactions with other organizational units
What are organizational process assets? Policies and procedures, suggested methodologies, templates
and guidelines
Can changedriven analysis approaches eliminate risk? Why? No, because late identification of
stakeholders or needs can alter the previous outcomes
What are the elements of stakeholder analysis? There are 4\n::Identification\n::Complexity\n::Attitude
and Influence\n::Authority Levels for BA Work
What are the complexity factors regarding stakeholder groups? ::Number and variety of stakeholder
groups\n::Number of interfacing business processes and automated systems
What are the factors of stakeholder attitude directed at? There are 5\n::Business goals
approach\n::Business Analysis\n::Collaboration\n::Sponsor\n::Team members
What are the factors of influence by stakeholders on a project? Influence on the project, organizational,
project health and other stakeholders
Stakeholder authority over business analysis takes what forms? ::Approval of
deliverables\n::Inspection/Approval of requirements\n::Approval of requirements
process\n::Traceability\n::Veto of proposed requirements or solutions
What is a RACI matrix? It describes the roles of individuals involved in business analysis activities
What do the initials RACI stand for? ::Responsible\n::Accountable\n::Consulted\n::Informed
What is a stakeholder map? A visual diagram that depicts the relationships of stakeholders to
solutions
What are the two forms of stakeholder maps? Matrix and Onion Diagram
What does an onion diagram depict? The level of stakeholder involvement with the solution
What is the purpose of planning analysis activities? ::Determining activities to be
performed\n::Estimation\n::Identify Management tools to measure progress
What are the inputs to planning the business analysis activities? There are 4\n::Business Analysis
Approach\n::Business Analysis Performance Assessment\n::Organizational process
assets\n::Stakeholder List
What does a Business Analysis Performance Assessment define? Prior analysis experience is used to
determine effort for analysis activities
What are the elements of planning business analysis activities? There are 3\n::Geographic Distribution
of Stakeholders\n::Type of Project\n::Analysis Deliverables
What are the two types of geographic distribution of stakeholders? ::Collocated\n::Dispersed
Name 2 of the 7 project/initiative types ::Feasibility studies\n::Process improvement\n::Organizational
change:\n::New software dev\n::Outsourced new software dev\n::Software Maintenance or
enhancement\n::Software package selection
What are the methods for identifying analysis deliverables? There are 3\n::Interviews/facilitated
session with stakeholders\n::Review of project docs\n::Review of organizational assets
What 3 tasks consume the Define Business Analysis Plan task? ::Planning the BA
Communication\n::Planning Requirement Management Process\n::Manage BA Performance
What 5 knowledge areas consume the Business Analysis Plan? ::Elicitation\n::Enterprise
Analysis\n::Requirement Management and Communication\n::Requirement Analysis\n::Solution
Assessment and Validation
What is the definition of a milestone? A significant event that measures the progress of a project and
compares actual progress to earlier estimates
Decomposition of the project tasks often using a WBS is the definition of what? Functional
Decomposition
What is the purpose of Planning Business Analysis Communication? To describe the proposed
structure and schedule for Communications re: business analysis activities
Appropriate audience, appropriate delivery method, approach and physical location are all
considerations of what? Planning the BA Communication
The BA Communication Plan is consumed by what 2 tasks? ::Prepare Requirements
Package\n::Communicate Requirements
What are the elements of planning the Business Analysis Communication Plan? ::Time\n::Task
Completion\n::Contracts\n::Formal/Informal Authority
What are the factors that can increase or decrease the need for formal Communications on a project?
::Project Size\n::Domain Complexity\n::Inclusion of new technologies\n::Delivery to external
vendors/suppliers\n::Regulatory Concerns\n::Stakeholder Request
One of the most recommended on approaches to requirements Communication is what?
Structured Walkthru
What describes how, when and why the business analyst will work with stakeholders? The Business
Analysis Communication Plan
What is the purpose of planning the Requirements Management Process? To describe the
approach that will be used to approve requirements for implementation and manage changes to the
solution scope
The Requirements Management Process includes what factors? ::Approving
stakeholders\n::Requirements traceability\n::Change process\n::Requirement Attributes
What are the inputs to planning the Requirements Management Process? There are 3\n::Business
Analysis Approach\n::Business Analysis Plan\n::Organizational Process Assets
What tasks consume the Requirements Management Plan? There are 5:\n::Manage BA
Performance\n::Manage Requirements Traceability\n::Conduct Elicitation\n::Manage Solution Scope
and Requirements\n::Prioritize Requirements
A method of storing requirements that are approved, under development, and under review describes
what term? Repository
What provides information about requirements? An attribute
What focuses on what requirements should be investigated first? Requirements Prioritization
Requirements prioritization assesses priority based on what? Risk
Is a component Communication on, cardinal, optional or an attribute? An Entity Relationship Diagram
has four main components:\n::Entities: an entity represents a group of uniquely identifiable people,
places, things or concepts about which a business area needs information. (e.g., Customers, Products,
Employees, Invoices, etc.).\n::Attributes: an attribute is one of the individual pieces of information that
describes an entity (e.g., Customer Name, Product Price, Employee Number, and Invoice Date). Unique
Identifiers: a unique identifier is an attribute, or a combination of attributes, that will uniquely identify
each separate occurrence of an entity (e.g., Customer Number, Invoice Number, and Social Insurance
Number).\n::Relationships: a relationship is a significant business association between two entities. It
reflects how data from one entity needs to be used in conjunction with data from another entity. It also
reflects a business rule of the enterprise.\n::At each end of a relationship line, a notation indicates the
minimum and maximum number of occurrences of one entity that may be associated with the other
entity. This notation is known as the cardinality of the relationship. A variety of notations are in popular
use, all expressing the same general concept.\n::The possible permutations of minimum and maximum
cardinality are:\n::Zero or one\n::Zero or more\n::One and only one\n::One or more
Regarding quality assurance, should the BA find defects in the system or provide input into how to test
the system? The Quality Assurance process includes development of a test plan/strategy for the
solution, execution of the test plan, and incident (defect) tracking of problems. The Business Analyst will
assist these activities by providing detailed business knowledge and helping to find the cause of any
problems
What is the Final task in requirements Communication?\n::A. answer questions from requirements final
review,\n::B. make a requirements final review\n::C. present the requirements to senior
management\n::D. obtain requirements signoff D. obtain requirements signoff
What is the benefit of feature list decomposition? A feature is a service that the solution provides
to fulfill one or more stakeholder needs. Features are highlevel abstractions of the solution that must
later be expanded into fully described functional and supplemental requirements. They allow for early
priority and scope management and for validating the stakeholders view of the solution.
Functional decomposition identifies what? Functional decomposition identifies the highlevel
functions of an organization or proposed solution and then breaks down those processes into sub
processes and activities. This can be done as part of a systems development or business process analysis
project. The goal is to break functions down into smaller pieces to allow for analysis of the detail
processes and to ensure coverage of all significant processes
In the Business Architecture planning endeavor the BA should determine what? Appropriate framework
and approach
Who are the primary consumers of requirements? The project team, who will use them in the
design and development of the system
Functional requirements can be expressed in what forms? Use cases and text
The business domain can be described with what types of diagrams? Activity Diagrams, Data Flow
Diagrams, Flowcharts, Sequences Diagrams, State Machine Diagrams
The Component Business Model describes what? Component Business Model identifies a basic
building block of the business, and includes the people, processes and technology needed by the
component to deliver value to the customer.
Enterprise architecture encompasses what 3 elements? People, processes, technology
What do the letters of the CRUD Matrix stand for? Create read, update delete rights to users and
groups. Good in software system development. Not applicable to business process analysis.
When a conflict arises between stakeholders on one or more documented requirements, the first thing
that needs to take place is what? ....to record the conflict in the Requirements Issues Log.
What are the Components of an ERD? An Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) is a visual representation
of a data structure.\n::Because they describe things that are significant to the enterprise (e.g.,
Customers, Products, Employees, Invoices, etc.), ERDs are useful in describing the structure of the
business itself, and many of the rules by which it is governed.
What is described in the Enterprise Architecture people processes? Each model identifies a basic
building block of the business, and includes the people, processes and technology needed by the
component to deliver value to the customer.
What are the measures on a balanced scorecard? The balanced scorecard (Robert Kaplan and
David Norton 1996) provides an effective technique to frame strategic goals. In this model, goals are
partitioned into four dimensions: financial, customer, internal operations, and learning and innovation.
What does the abbreviation PLC stand for? Project Life Cycle
What is the minimum structural set of requirements of a presentation whether it is formal or informal?
Introduction of parties attending presentation\n::Statement of presentation objectives\n::
Project background\n::Presentation/review of deliverable\n::Agreement of actions/changes
required\n::Review of deliverable status (e.g., signed off, not signed off, etc.)
What is the ISO 924111 definition of usability? The extent to which a product can be used by specified
users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of
use.
What does a logical model represent? Entities that are in the problem domain and the relationships
between them
When are logical models used by BAs? To represent requirements of a business area
What is the difference between a view and a model decomposition? A view is not exclusive and its
requirements may be referenced in all views that are relevant
What is a view with regard to modeling? The capture of requirements from a specific perspective
Modeling benefits are? ::Simplification of reality to allow focus\n::Comprehension of
complexity\n::Explanation from varying perspectives\n::Ensures all aspects are considered\n::Translate
easily into solution design
Modeling is often used when? ::When the problem domain is well known\n::When the solution is easy
to construct\n::When there is little collaboration needed\n::When there is little need for ongoing
maintenance\n::When the scope is unlikely to grow
What is the definition of a model? A template for expressing requirements that may combine
textual elements, matrices, and diagrams
Authorization resources, process identification, impact assessment and correct wording are all aspects
of what? Change Management
What does a Change Control Board do? Considers requested changes and decides on the merits of the
request prior to approving or declining it.
What are the aspects to a change request that are important? ::Cost and time to
implement\n::Benefits and Risk\n::Course of action and alternate solutions\n::Coordinated prioritization
What major methodology utilizes a project/product backlog? Agile or Scrum
Organizational culture, Stakeholder preference, complexity, organizational maturity and availability of
resources are all factors used to do what? Perform tailoring exercises
What are the techniques used in planning requirements management? There are 3\n::Decision
analysis\n::Problem tracking\n::Risk analysis
What is the output of planning requirements management activities? The Requirements
Management Plan
What does the Requirements Management Plan describe? ::Traceability approach\n::Definition of
requirement attributes\n::Requirement prioritization process\n::Requirement change process
Metrics are used to do what? Measure business analysis performance throughout the lifecycle.
There are 4 inputs to the Manage BA Performance activity. What are they? ::Business Analysis
Performance Metrics\n::Business Analysis Plan\n::Organizational Performance
Standards\n::Requirements Management Plan
The Manage BA Performance activity is part of what knowledge area? Business Analysis Planning and
Monitoring
What are the 6 activities that occur within the Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring knowledge
area? ::Plan Business Analysis Approach\n::Conduct Stakeholder Analysis\n::Plan Business Analysis
Communication\n::Plan Requirements Management Process\n::Manage Business Analysis Performance
What are the 4 activities that occur within the Elicitation knowledge area? ::Prepare for
Elicitation\n::Conduct Elicitation\n::Document Elicitation Results\n::Confirm Elicitation Results
What are the activities that occur within the Requirements Management & Communication knowledge
area? There are 5\n::Manage Solution Scope and Requirements\n::Manage Requirements
Traceability\n::Maintain Requirements for Reuse\n::Prepare Requirements Package\n::Communication
of Requirements
What are the activities that are part of the Enterprise Analysis knowledge area? There are 5\n::Define
the Business Need\n::Assess Capability Gaps\n::Determine Solution Approach\n::Define Solution
Scope\n::Define Business Case
What are the activities contained within the Requirements Analysis knowledge area? There are
6\n::Prioritize Requirements\n::Organize Requirements\n::Specify and Model Requirements\n::Define
Assumptions and Constraints\n::Verify Requirements\n::Validate Requirements
What are the activities that are part of the Solutions Assessment and Validation knowledge area?
There are 6\n::Assess Proposed Solution\n::Allocate Requirements\n::Assess Organizational
Readiness\n::Define Transition Requirements\n::Validate Solution\n::Evaluate Solution Performance
What are the Underlying Competencies described in the BABOK? There are 6\n::Analytical
Thinking and Problem Solving\n::Behavioral Characteristics\n::Business Knowledge\n::Communication
Skills\n::Interaction Skills\n::Software Applications
How many different techniques does the BABOK 2.0 describe? 34
The BA Performance Assessment is used by what downstream task as an input? Plan BA Activities
The BA Process Assets are children of what? Organizational Process Assets
What does the Plan BA Activities task consume as an input? BA Performance Assessment
There are several elements of the Manage BA Performance activity. What are they? ::Performance
Measures\n::Performance Reporting\n::Preventive and Correction Action
What are performance measures used for? To set expectations regarding what constitutes effective
business analysis work in the context of an organization or project
What are some performance measures? ::Deliverable due date deliverables\n::Frequency of
change\n::Number of review cycles
The business analyst should assess the performance measures to determine what? Where
problems in execution of business analysis activities are occurring or opportunities for improvement
exist
There are several techniques defined for use in the Manage Business Analysis Performance activity.
What are they? There are 7\n::Interviews\n::Lessons Learned\n::Metrics and KPIs\n::Problem
Tracking\n::Process Modeling\n::Root Cause Analysis\n::Survey/Questionnaire
What is root cause analysis? An investigation into the underlying cause of a failure or problem
What is Variance Analysis? A technique used to analyze discrepancies between planned and actual
performance and to determine the magnitude of the differences
What knowledge are is Variance Analysis used in and why? Business Analysis Planning and
Monitoring. It is used as part of the Manage Business Analysis Performance activity to manage
performance in an ongoing project
What is a KPI? Key Performance Indicator\n::These are metrics used to help an organization define and
evaluate how successful it is, typically in terms of making progress towards its longterm organizational
goals
Define elicit. To draw forth, call forth or bring out
What phases of the SDLC are requirements elicited in? Throughout the SDLC
Name 3 of the 9 elicitation techniques. 3 of the following:\nBrainstorming\nDocument Analysis\nFocus
Groups\nInterface analysis\nInterviews\nObservations\nPrototyping\nRequirements
Workshop\nSurvey/Questionnaire
What are the tasks described in the Elicitation knowledge area? There are 4\n::Prepare for
Elicitation\n::Conduct Elicitation Activity\n::Document Elicitation Results\n::Confirm Elicitation Results
What are the inputs to Elicitation? ::Business Case\n::Business Need\n::Organizational process
assets\n::Requirements Management Plan\n::Solution Scope\n::Stakeholder List
What are the outputs of Elicitation? There are 4\n::Elicitation Results\n::Scheduled
Resources\n::Stakeholder Concerns\n::Supporting Materials
What is the purpose of preparing for elicitation? To ensure that all resources are organized and
scheduled for conducting the elicitation exercise
What are two things used to capture elicitation knowledge? Data Dictionary & Glossary
What does a glossary typically contain? Key Domain terminology and business definitions
What is metadata? Data about data
What are the three elements of elicitation discussed in the BABOK? ::Tracing
requirements\n::Capturing Requirements Attributes\n::Metrics
What is the input to the Document Elicitation Results activity? The elicited requirements
According to the BABOK 2.0, elicited requirements may undergo analysis directly with prototyping,
without documentation. True or False True. Prototyping may be used to perform analysis on
requirements without the need to document
What tasks consume the documented elicited requirements? There are 5\n::Confirm Elicitation
Results\n::Prioritize Requirements\n::Define the Business Need\n::Specify and Model
Requirements\n::Define Transition Requirements
What else does elicitation produce? Stakeholder concerns
What tasks consume stakeholder concerns? ::Confirm Elicitation Results\n::Define Business
Case\n::Define Assumptions and Constraints\n::Assess Org Readiness
What are some examples of stakeholder concerns? Risk, assumptions, constraints, etc.
What is the purpose of confirming elicitation results? To validate that the stated concerns that are
expressed by the stakeholder match the stakeholders' understanding of the problem and needs
What are the inputs to the Confirm Elicitation Results task? Requirements and Stakeholder
Concerns, both unconfirmed
What are two techniques that are used to confirm elicitation results? Interviews and Observation
What are the outputs of the Confirm Elicitation Results task? Requirements and Stakeholder
Concerns, both confirmed
What tasks consume CONFIRMED requirements? There are 4\n::Define Business
Need\n::Prioritize Requirements\n::Specify and Model Requirements \n::Define Transition
Requirements
What tasks consume CONFIRMED stakeholder concerns? There are 3\n::Define Business
Case\n::Define Assumptions and Constraints\n::Assess Organizational Readiness
What does the Requirements Management and Communication knowledge area describe? The
activities and considerations for managing and expressing requirements to a broad audience
Communication of requirements does what for stakeholders? Brings them to a Communication on
understanding
Performance of all Requirements Management and Communication activities is governed by what?
Business Analysis plan
What are the tasks/activities of the Requirements Management and Communication knowledge area?
There are 5\n::Manage Solution Scope\n::Manage Requirements traceability\n::Manage
Requirements for ReUse\n::Prepare Requirements Package\n::Communication Requirements
What are the inputs into the Requirements Management and Communication knowledge area
tasks/activities? There are 6\n::BA Communication Plan\n::Organizational process
assets\n::Requirements\n::Requirements Management Plan\n::Solution Scope\n::Stakeholder
List/Responsibilities
What are the outputs from the tasks/activities in the Requirements Management and Communication
knowledge area? There are 5\n::Approved Requirements\n::Traced
Requirements\n::Communicated Requirements\n::Maintained and Reusable
Requirements\n::Requirements Package
What is the purpose of the Manage Solution Scope and Requirements task/activity? To obtain
consensus among stakeholders on overall solutions scope
What occurs during the Manage Solution Scope and Requirements task/activity? ::Securing approval of
requirements\n::Management of issues from elicitation
What is base lining? In essence, the approval of a set of requirements (in this context) that allows no
change to occur to the set without a way to control change
What should the requirements do in order to be approved? Support the solution scope
Why is the solution scope carried forward into the Requirement Management and Communication
knowledge area? To ensure that the requirements conform to the approved solution scope
How is the solution scope used to manage change in the Requirements Management and
Communication knowledge area? All requested changes to requirements are assessed against the
solution scope to ensure of alignment
The Requirements Management Plan is an input to the Requirements Management and Communication
knowledge area. Why? It is used to define the process to be followed in managing the solution scope
and the requirements
What are the elements of the Manage Solution Scope & Requirements task/activity? ::Solution
Scope Management\n::Conflict and Issue Management\n::Presenting Requirements for
Review\n::Approval
What's the difference between a formal and informal requirements presentation to stakeholders?
One is formal written specification with possible walkthru and the other is possibly verbal or
email Communication
What are the techniques used to Manage Solution Scope and requirements? Base lining and Signoff
What is the purpose of managing requirements traceability? To create and maintain relationships
between business objectives, requirements, other deliverables
What does requirements traceability define? Lineage of requirements, including backwards and
forwards traceability.
What is derivation? Backwards traceability
What is allocation? Forward traceability
What is the value of traceability? It helps ensure conformation to the overall solution for each
individual requirements and assists is scope and change Management
What is used to potentially find missing functionality or identify unrequested functionality?
Requirements traceability
What is the overall goal of requirements traceability? To requirements, solution components are
linked directly or indirectly back to the original business objectives
What are the inputs to the Manage Requirements Traceability task/activity? Requirements and the
Requirements Management Plan
What task/activity consumes traced requirements? Manage Solution Scope and Requirements
Why are relationships an element of Manage Requirements Traceability? Knowing dependent
relationships between requirements can help determine the sequence of when each will be addressed
What are the 5 type of relationships between requirements?
::Necessity\n::Effort\n::Subset\n::Cover\n::Value
What is the Cover type of requirement relationship? When a requirement completely includes
another requirement. It is a subset in which the toplevel requirement is the sum of the sub
requirements
What is the Value type of requirement relationship? When including a requirement affects the
desirability of a related requirement (increase or decrease)
Why is traceability useful in performing impact analysis? Because when requirements change and they
are linked to other requirements, the related items are identified as a result of the link, as well as
potential changes in the relationship
What is a Configuration Management System A specialized tools that is generally used to trace large
volumes of requirements
What is a coverage matrix? A table or spreadsheet used to manage tracing. Also called a trace
matrix. Used when there are few requirements.
What is the purpose of the Maintain requirements for ReUse task/activity? To manage the
knowledge of requirements following their implementation
What occurs in the Maintain Requirements for ReUse task/activity? To identify requirements that
are good candidates for longterm usage
What are the two inputs to Maintain Requirements for ReUse task/activity? Organizational process
assets and Requirements
Reusable requirements are consumable where? Enterprise Architecture and Future Initiatives
How are reusable requirements used by Enterprise Architecture and Future Initiatives Enterprise
Architecture would typically include term requirement types into a data dictionary. Other requirement
types can be used across projects in future initiatives to replicate portions of functionality that is
Communication on to multiple areas
What are ongoing requirements? Those requirements that an organizational unit is required to be
able to meet on a continuous basis
What is an example of an ongoing requirement? ::Contractual obligations (SLAs)\n::Quality
standards\n::Business rules/standards
What is the purpose of Prepare Requirements Package? To select and structure a set of requirements in
an appropriate fashion to ensure that the requirements are effectively communicated to, understood
by, and usable by a stakeholder group or groups
What is the proper level of detail to present for requirements in a requirements package That which is
needed for the team to understand the content, and no more
What are some reasons for creating a requirements package? ::early assessment of quality and
planning\n::evaluation of possible alternatives\n::formal reviews and approvals\n::inputs to solution
design\n::conformance to contractual and regulatory obligations\n::maintenance for reuse
The Prepare Requirements Package task is part of what knowledge area? Requirements
Management & Communication
Misunderstanding of requirements will adversely affect what? Solution Implementation
What are the forms of requirements packages? There are 3:\n::Formal
Documentation\n::Presentation\n::Models
What are the inputs to the Prepare Requirements Package task? There are 4:\n::Business Analysis
Communication Plan\n::Org Process Assets\n::Requirements\n::Requirements Structure
What is the value of the Business Analysis Communication Plan as an input to Prepare Requirements
Package? It will describe the stakeholder groups, their communication needs, and define whether
a single requirements package or multiple requirements packages are required.
What task consumes the requirements package? Communicate Requirements
What are the elements of Prepare Requirements Package? There are 2:\n::Work Products and
Deliverables\n::Format
What is the definition of a work product? A document or collection of notes or diagrams used by
the business analyst during the requirements development process
What are examples of work products? ::Meeting agendas and minutes\n::Interview questions and
notes\n::Facilitation session agendas and notes\n::Issues log\n::Work plan, status
reports\n::Presentation slides used during the project\n::Traceability matrices

What is the definition of a deliverable? A deliverable is a specific output of the business analysis
process that the business analyst has agreed to produce
What is the usage for a requirements deliverable? As a basis for solution design and
implementation
What must the analyst understand when deciding whether to use a deliverable or requirements
deliverable? ::Needs of the audience\n::Level of detail that needs to be communicated\n::Which
deliverables to include in each presentation package
Format considerations in the requirements package are for what purpose? Delivery of a cohesive,
effective message to one or more audiences who will participate in the requirements review process
What are the techniques of the Prepare Requirements Package task? There are 2:\n::Requirements
Documentation\n::Requirements for Vendor Selection
What are some common forms of requirements documentation? ::BRD\n::Product
Roadmap\n::SRS\n::Supplementary Requirements Spec\n::Vision Document
What are the typical forms of documentation when presenting requirements to vendors? There
are 2:\n::Request for Information (RFI)\n::Request for Quote (RFQ) / Request for Proposal (RFP).
What is an RFI? Generally used when the issuing organization is open to a number of alternative
solutions and is seeking information to evaluate possible options
What is an RFQ/RFP? Used when the issuing organization understands the nature of the solution
options available to it and is seeking vendors who can implement an option. An RFQ generally follows a
less formal review and selection process than an RFP.
Business analysts must develop what based on the business requirements before looking at available
products? Evaluation Criteria
What is the purpose of the Communicate Requirements task? Communicating requirements is
essential for bringing stakeholders to a common un-derstanding of requirements.
Does the analyst utilize soft, technical or both types of communication skills when communicating
requirements? Both
What are the inputs to the Communicate Requirements task? There are 3:\n::BA Communication
Plan\n::Requirements\n::Requirements Package
The Requirements Package is the output of what task? Prepare Requirements Package
What is the output of the Communicate Requirements task? Requirements Communicated
Which task or tasks consume communicated requirements? Manage Solution Scope and
Requirements
With regards to communicating the requirements, what does the BA Communication Plan provide?
::What requirements should be communicated\n::Which stakeholders should receive the
communication\n::When communication should occur\n::What the form of the communication should
be
What are the elements of the Communicate Requirements task? There are 2:\n::General
Communication \n::Presentations
What knowledge area does the Communicate Requirements task reside in? Requirements Mgmt
and Communication
When does requirements communication typically occur? It occurs throughout the project on an
iterative basis
Must all project requirements communication be formal? No, informal communication is also
valuable and may lead to the creation of additional requirements
What are so common areas that lead to the creation of additional requirements as a result of
communication? ::Enterprise analysis \n::Elicitation \n::Requirements Analysis\n::Solution
Assessment and Validation
The formality of presentations used to communicate requirements is driven by what factors?
Stakeholder needs and objectives of the communication
A presentation may be used: ::to ensure that internal project quality standards have been adhered to
What are the techniques of the Communicate Requirements? There are 2:\n::Requirements
Workshops\n:: Structured Walkthrough
What is the difference between a structured walk through and a requirements workshop? A
requirements workshop is a structured meeting in which a carefully selected group of stakeholders
collaborate to define and or refine requirements under the guidance of a skilled neutral facilitator\n\nA
structured walkthrough is an organized peer review of a deliverable with the objective of finding errors
and omissions. It is considered a form of quality assurance
Communicated Requirements mean what to stakeholders? That they understand them and the
current state the requirements are in
What does the Enterprise Analysis Knowledge Area describe? The business analysis activities
necessary to identify a business need, problem, or opportunity, define the nature of a solution that
meets that need, and justify the investment necessary to deliver that solution
Enterprise Analysis outputs provide context to what? Requirements analysis and solution
identification
Is enterprise the starting point or a result of creating a new project? The starting point?
What is the difference between a requirements defined during enterprise analysis and requirements
analysis? The requirements that are outputs of enterprise analysis are higher level requirements
that must be in place to achieve the business goals and objectives.
The Enterprise Analysis knowledge area describes what types of activities for organizations? ::To
analyze the business situation in order to fully understand business problems and opportunities. \n::To
assess the capabilities of the enterprise in order to understand the change needed to meet business
needs and achieve strategic goals. \n::To determine the most feasible business solution approach.\n::To
define the solution scope and develop the business case for a proposed solution.\n::To define and
document business requirements (including the business need, required capabilities, solution scope, and
business case).
There are 7 inputs to the Enterprise Analysis Knowledge Area. What are they? ::Assumptions and
Constraints\n::Business Goals and Objectives\n::Enterprise Architecture\n::Org Process
Assets\n::Requirements [Stated]\n::Solution Performance Assessment\n::Stakeholder Concerns
How many tasks are part of the Enterprise Analysis knowledge area? There are 5. They are:\n::Define
Business Need\n::Assess Capability Gaps\n::Determine Solution Approach\n::Define Solution
Scope\n::Define Business Case
What are the outputs of the Enterprise Analysis knowledge area? There are 5:\n::Business
Case\n::Business Need\n::Required Capabilities\n::Solution Approach\n::Solution Scope
What is the purpose of the Define Business Need task? Identify and define why a change to
organizational systems or capabilities is required
Why is the definition of the business need so critical? It defines the problem that the business analyst
is trying to find a solution for. \n\nThe way the business need is defined determines which alternative
solutions will be considered, which stakeholders will be consulted, and which solution approaches will
be evaluated
What are the inputs needed to define the business need? ::Business Goals and
Objectives\n::Requirements [Stated]
The business need is consumed by what task or tasks? ::Plan Business Analysis Approach\n::Conduct
Stakeholder Analysis\n::Prepare for Elicitation\n::Conduct Elicitation\n::Assess Capability
Gaps\n::Determine Solution Approach\n::Define Solution Scope\n::Define Business Case\n::Prioritize
Requirements\n::Verify Requirements\n::Requirements Mgmt and Communication Knowledge Area
What are the four ways to generate a business need during Enterprise Analysis? ::From Top
Down\n::From Bottom Up\n::From Middle Mgmt\n::From External Drivers
Business goals and objectives describe what? The ends that the organization is seeking to achieve.
Goals and objectives can relate to changes that the organization wants to accomplish, or current
conditions that it wants to maintain
Goals are defined as what? Longerterm, ongoing, and qualitative statements of a state or
condition that the organization is seeking to establish and maintain
Highlevel goals can be decomposed to break down what? General strategy into distinct focus
areas that may lead to desired results, such as increased customer satisfaction, operational excellence
and/or business growth
A common test for assessing objectives is to ensure that they are SMART. What do the letters in this
acronym stand for? ::Specific describing something that has an observable outcome
\n::Measurable tracking and measuring the outcome\n::Achievable testing the feasibility of the
effort\n::Relevant in alignment with the organizations key vision, mission, goals\n::Timebounded
the objective has a defined timeframe that is consistent with the business need
In order to define a business need, what must occur? An issue must be investigated to ensure that
there is in fact an opportunity for improvement if the issue is resolved
When investigating the business, the analyst should consider what? :: Adverse impacts the problem
is causing\n:: Expected benefits from any potential solution\n:: How quickly the problem could
potentially be resolved\n::The underlying source of the problem
As a possible solution, what should always be considered? Doing nothing
What is a desired outcome? It describes the business benefits that will result from meeting the
business need and the end state desired by stakeholders.\n\nProposed solutions must be evaluated
against desired outcomes to ensure that they can deliver those outcomes
What are the techniques of the Define Business Need task? ::Benchmarking\n:: Brainstorming\n::
Business Rules Analysis\n:: Focus Groups\n:: Functional Decomposition\n:: Root Cause Analysis
What is Benchmarking? Understanding what competing organizations and peers are doing allows the
organization to remain at a comparable level of service or identify opportunities to increase efficiency
What is the purpose of the Assess Capability Gaps task? To identify new capabilities required by the
enterprise to meet the business need
Why should capability gaps be identified? They that prevent it from meeting business needs and
achieving desired outcomes
What are the inputs of the Assess Capability Gaps task? ::Business Needs\n::Enterprise
Assessment\n::Solution Performance Assessment
The Assess Capability Gaps task is part of what knowledge area? Enterprise Analysis
What is the output of the Assess Capability Gaps task? Required Capabilities
What are the tasks that consume Required Capabilities? ::Determine Solution Approach\n::Define
Solution Scope\n::Prioritize Requirements\n::Verify Requirements\n::Requirements Mgmt and
Communication knowledge area
What does a Solution Performance Assessment define? Shortcomings, problems or limitations of an
existing solution
What are the elements of the Assess Capability Gaps task? There are 3:\n::Current Capability
Analysis\n::Assessment of New Capability Requirements\n::Assumptions
What is the goal of the Current Capability analysis exercise? To understand the organizations
business and how the business and technology architecture are supporting that business
What must be done if current capability data is not available? The analyst must model and other
descriptive information about the area of the enterprise that is under review.
What must the current capabilities be assessed against in order to identify gaps? The desired objectives
of the stakeholders
If current capabilities are insufficient to meet the business need, the business analyst must identify
what? The capabilities that the organization must add
A comparison of the current and desired future states will identify what? Gaps in organizational
capabilities that need to be filled to support the business vision, strategy, goals and objectives.
Why is it important to identify assumptions during the Assess Capability Gaps task? So that
appropriate decisions can be made if the assumption later proves invalid
What are the techniques used in the Assess Capability Gaps task? ::Document Analysis\n::SWOT
Analysis
What is SWOT Analysis? Identify how current capabilities and limitations (Strengths and Weaknesses)
match up against the influencing factors (Opportunities and Threats)
What is the definition of Required Capabilities? An understanding of the current capabilities of the
organization and the new capabilities (processes, staff, features in an application, etc.) that may be
required to meet the business need
What is the purpose of the Determine Solution Approach task in Enterprise Analysis? To determine
the most viable solution approach to meet the business need in enough detail to allow for definition of
solution scope and prepare the business case
The solution approach describes what? The general approach that will be taken to create or acquire the
new capabilities required to meet the business need
What must occur for the solution approach to be defined? ::identify possible
approaches\n::determine the means by which the solution may be delivered (including the
methodology and lifecycle to be used) \n::assess whether the organization is capable of implementing
and effectively using a solution of that nature
What are the inputs to the Define Solution Approach task? There are 3\n::Business\n::Organization
Process Assets\n::Required Capabilities
The Solution Approach is consumed by what task or tasks? Define Solution Scope
What are the elements of the Define Solution Approach task? There are 3\n::Alternative
Generation\n::Assumptions and Constraints\n::Ranking Selection of Approaches
What is involved in the generation of alternatives? Identify as many potential options as possible to
meet the business objectives and fill identified gaps in capabilities
In relation to a solution, what is the impact of an assumption or constraint? Either might impact
whether the solution is a viable option
What are the techniques of the Define Solution Approach task? There are 2\n::General Techniques
(includes benchmarking, brainstorming, decision analysis, estimation, SWOT analysis)\n::Feasibility
Analysis
What is a feasibility study? A preliminary analysis of solution alternatives or options to determine
whether and how each option can provide an expected business benefit
What is the definition of a solution approach? A description of the approach that will be taken to
implement a new set of capabilities. Solution approaches describe the types of solution components
that will be delivered (new processes, a new software application, etc.) and may also describe the
methodology that will be used to deliver those components
What is the purpose of the Define Solution Scope task? To define which new capabilities a project or
iteration will deliver in order to conceptualize the recommended solution in enough detail to enable
stakeholders to understand which new business capabilities an initiative will deliver
What does the solution scope include? ::The scope of analysis (the organizational unit or process for
which requirements are being developed) which provides the context in which the solution is
implemented\n:: capabilities supported by solution components\n:: capabilities to be supported by
individual releases or iterations\n:: enabling capabilities that are required in order for the organization
to develop the capabilities required to meet the business need
What are the inputs to the Define Solution Scope task? There are 4\n::Assumptions and
Constraints\n::Business Needs\n::Required Capabilities\n::Solution Approach
The Define Solution Scope task produces what output? Solution Scope
The Solution Scope is consumed by what task or tasks? ::Prepare for Elicitation\n::Conduct
Elicitation\n::Define Business Case\n::Prioritize Requirements\n::Organize Requirements\n::Verify
Requirements\n::Allocate Requirements\n::Assess Org Readiness\n::Requirements Mgmt and
Communication knowledge area
What are the elements of the Define Solution Scope task? There are 3\n::Solution Scope
Definition\n::Implementation Approach\n::Dependencies
What is included in the Solution Scope Definition? ::Major features and functions that are to be
included, and the interactions that the solution will have with people and systems outside of its
scope\n::. Differentiation of the inscope and outofscope components of the solution
What does the Implementation Approach define? How the chosen solution approach will deliver
the solution scope. The implementation approach may break delivery down into specific releases or
provide a roadmap that indicates the timeframe in which a capability can be expected
What are the techniques for the Define Solution Scope task? There are 2\n::General Techniques
(includes Functional Decomposition, Interface Analysis, Scope Modeling, User Stories)\n::Problem or
Vision Statement
The Solution Approach is defined in what knowledge area? Enterprise Analysis
The Solution Scope defines what? What must be delivered in order to meet the business need,
and the effect of the proposed change initiative on the business and technology operations and
infrastructure
The business case describes what? The justification for the project in terms of the value to be
added to the business as a result of the deployed solution, as compared to the cost to develop and
operate the solution
What are the inputs to the Define Business Case task? There are 4\n::Assumptions and
Constraints\n::Business Needs\n::Solution Scope\n::Stakeholder Concerns
The business case is consumed by what tasks? ::Prepare for Elicitation\n::Conduct
Elicitation\n::Prioritize Requirements\n::Verify Requirements\n::Validate
Requirements\n::Requirements Mgmt and Communication knowledge area
With regard to the business, typically what do the assumptions refer to that are identified?
Assumptions about the revenue generated or retained by the solution or nonfinancial
improvements it will deliver
What are the elements of the Define Business Case task? There are 4\n::Benefits\n::Costs
What are the two types of benefits collected in the Define Business Case task? Qualitative and
Quantitative
Benefits collected in the Define Business Case task should relate back to what? Strategic objectives and
goals of the organization
In estimating the total net cost of a proposed solution, what is included in the calculation? ::capital
expenditures for the new investment\n::costs of developing and implementing the
change\n::opportunity costs of not investing in other options, costs related to changing the work and
practices of the organization\n::total cost of ownership to support the new solution and consequential
costs borne by others
The initial risk assessment focuses on what? Solution feasibility risks that the organization is willing
to or able to bear
Initial risk assessment includes what factors? ::technical risks (whether the chosen technology and
suppliers can deliver the required functionality)\n::financial risks (whether costs may exceed levels that
make the solution viable or potential benefits may disappear) \n::business change and organizational
risks (whether the organization will make the changes necessary to benefit from the new solution).
What types of results are articulated in the business case? Cost and Benefits to be realized and
how each will be measured
What are the techniques used in the Define Business Case task? There are 6\n::Decision
Analysis\n::Estimation\n::Metrics and KPIs\n::Risk Analysis\n::SWOT Analysis\n::Vendor Assessment
Why is vendor assessment a technique in the Define Business Case task? In the case in which a purchase
or outsourcing to a third party is in consideration, the organization must know whether the vendor is
capable of delivering the solution
Who is the primary stakeholder in the Define Business Case task? The Sponsor
The business case presents data in order to support what? A go/nogo decision on whether to
fund the effort
The Requirements Analysis knowledge area describes what? The tasks and techniques used by a
business analyst to analyze stated requirements in order to define the required capabilities of a
potential solution that will fulfill stakeholder needs.
What are stakeholder requirements? They describe what a solution must be capable of doing to meet
the needs of one or more stakeholder groups
What are solution requirements? They describe the behavior of solution components in enough
detail to allow them to be constructed
The performance of all requirements analysis activities is governed by what? Business Analysis Plan
What are the inputs to the Requirements Analysis knowledge area? There are 8\n::Business
Case\n::Business Need\n::Requirements\n::Organizational Process Assets\n::Requirements Mgmt
Plan\n::Stakeholder Concerns\n::Stakeholder List\n::Solution Scope
What are the tasks of the Requirements Analysis knowledge area? There are 6\n::Prioritize
Requirements\n::Organize Requirements\n::Specify and Model Requirements\n::Define Assumptions
and Constraints\n::Verify Requirements\n::Validate Requirements
What are the outputs of the Requirements Analysis knowledge area? There are 6\n::Assumptions and
Constraints\n::Requirements Structure\n::Requirements [prioritized]\n::Requirements [validated]\n::
Requirements [verified]\n::Stakeholder Concerns
What is the purpose of the Prioritize Requirements task? Prioritization of requirements ensures
that analysis and implementation efforts focus on the most critical requirements.
What is Requirement prioritization? It is a decision process used to determine the relative
importance of requirements, based on value, risk, difficulty of implementation, or on other criteria
Prioritization determines what? Which requirements should be targets for further analysis and to
determine which requirements should be implemented first
What are the inputs to the Prioritize Requirements task? There are 5\n::Business
Case\n::Business Need\n::Requirements\n::Requirements Mgmt Plan\n::Stakeholder List
Prioritized requirements are consumed by what tasks? ::Assess Proposed Solution
What does the business case, as an input, provide to the prioritization of requirements process? It
provides key goals and measures of success for a project or organization, and priorities should be
aligned with those goals and objectives.
Why is a business need and business case needed? Its not. The business need serves as an
alternative if the business case has not been provided
What are the elements for the Prioritize Requirements task? There are 2\n::Basis of
Prioritization\n::Challenges
What are the factors considered as part as the basis for prioritization? ::Business Value\n::Business or
Technical Risk\n::Implementation Difficulty\n::Likelihood of Success\n::Regulatory or Policy
Compliance\n::Relationship to Other Requirements\n::Stakeholder Agreements
How does business value impact prioritization of requirements? It prioritizes requirements based on
costbenefit analysis of their relative value to the organization. The most valuable requirements will be
targeted for development first.
Why is the relationship to other requirements a factor for the basis of prioritization? A requirement
may not be high value in and of itself, but may support other highpriority requirements and as such
may be a candidate for early implementation.
What are two types of challenges with regard to requirements prioritization? Nonnegotiable
demands from stakeholders and Unrealistic tradeoffs
What is considered an unrealistic tradeoff? The solution development team may intentionally or
uninten-tionally try to influence the result of the prioritization process by overestimating the difficulty or
complexity of implementing certain requirements
What are the techniques used in the Prioritize Requirements task? There are 4\n::General
techniques (Risk and Decision analysis)\n::Moscow Analysis (Must, Should, Could, and
Wont)\n::Timeboxing/Budgeting\n::Voting
What is Timeboxing/Budgeting? Prioritization of requirements for investigation and implementation
based on allocation of a fixed resource.
What must be determined in order to use Timeboxing/Budgeting? The solution approach
Timeboxing prioritizes requirements based on what? The amount of work that the project team is
capable of delivering in a set period of time
Budgeting is used when? When the project team has been allocated a fixed amount of money.
What are the three approaches to Timeboxing/budgeting? ::All In Begin with all the eligible
requirements with assigned Duration or Cost. Remove the requirements in order to meet the calendar
dates or budget limit.\n::All Out Begin with adding the requirement(s) with assigned duration or cost
to the calendar or budget. Stop when the calendar dates are met or budget limit is reached.\n::Selective
Begin by identifying high priority requirements added to the calendar or budget. Add or remove
requirements in order to meet the calendar date or budget limit.
What is voting in relation to requirement prioritization? Voting methods allocate a fixed amount of
resources (votes, play money, or other tokens) to each participant for them to distribute among
proposed features or requirements. The requirements that receive the most resources are the ones that
will be investigated or developed first
A prioritized requirement has an attribute that describes what? Its relative importance to stakeholders
and the organization
What is the purpose of the Organize Requirements task? To create a set of views of the
requirements for the new business solution that are comprehensive, complete, consistent, and
understood from all stakeholder perspectives
What are the two key objectives when organizing requirements? ::Understand which models are
appropriate for the business domain and solution scope\n:: Identify model interrelationships and
dependencies
What are the inputs to the Organize Requirements task? There are 3:\n::Organizational Process
Assets\n::Requirements [Stated]\n::Solution Scope
Why is it important to understand model interdependencies when organizing requirements?
Because it is the relationships and interdependencies among requirements that adds the
element of complexity
What task or tasks consume the Requirements Structure? Prepare Requirements Package and
Specify and Model Requirements
What are the elements of the Organize Requirements task? There are two\n::Levels of Abstraction
According to the BABOK 2.0, which of the following describes LESSENING abstraction of requirements?
::business requirements, stakeholder requirements, and solution requirements
What is the objective of creating a model of requirements? To simplify reality in a way that is useful
Must modeling be performed in a specific order with a specific hierarchy? No. There is not
hierarchy when using models
What are the common concepts when using models? ::User Classes, profiles, Roles\n::Concepts and
Relationships\n::Events\n::Processes\n::Rules
User Classes, Profiles, or Roles are categorizations that are often found in what models? ::organization
models \n::process models\n::use cases
Organization models, process models and use cases are generally created in what task Conduct
Stakeholder Analysis
What corresponds to something in the real world; a place, a person, a thing, an organization A
concept
What do concepts define? They define the objects, entities or facts that are relevant to the
business domain and what relationships they have with other concepts
The attributes of a concept are found in what type of model Data Model
A request to a business system or organization to do something, such as a customer placing an order, or
a manager requesting a report, can be described as what? An Event
Events can serve as the basis for what type of model? Scope Model
Events serve as the basis for scope models but can be described in what other types of models?
::Process Models\n::State Diagrams\n::Use Cases/Models
A sequence of repeatable activities executed within an organization is known as a what? Process
Processes describe what? Who and what has to be involved in fully responding to an event, or
how people in the enterprise collaborate to achieve a goal
Process information can be found in what types of models? ::Process Models\n::Org
Models\n::State Diagrams\n::Use Cases/Models
What are used by the enterprise to enforce goals and guide decisionmaking? Rules
What do rules determine? When information associated with an entity may change, what values of
information are valid, how decisions are made in a process, and what the organizations priorities are
What types of models might contain rule information? ::Process Models\n::State Diagrams\n::Use
Cases/Models
What are the techniques used in the Organize Requirements task? There are 9\n::Business Rules
Analysis\n::Data Flow Diagrams\n::Data Modeling\n::Functional Decomposition\n::Organizational
Modeling\n::Process Modeling\n::Scenarios and Use Cases\n::Scope Modeling\n::User Stories
Who are the primary stakeholders in the Organize Requirements task? Domain SME, End User,
Implementation SME, and Sponsor: They Affected by analysis techniques used to organize requirements
since they need to verify and validate the requirements.
What is the purpose of the Specify and Model Requirements task? To analyze expressed
stakeholder desires and/or the current state of the organization using a combination of textual
statements, matrices, diagrams and formal models
Specifications and models are created to do what? Analyze the functioning of an organization and
provide insight into opportunities for improvement
Specifications and models also support what? Development and implementation of solutions,
facilitating communication among stakeholders, supporting training activities and knowledge
management, and ensuring compliance with contracts and regulations
What are the inputs to the Specify and Model Requirements task? There are 2\n::Requirements
[stated]\n::Requirements Structure
What is the output of the Specify and Model Requirements task? Stakeholder or Solution
Requirements
What tasks consume the Stakeholder or Solution Requirements? There are 3\n::Prioritize
Requirements\n::Verify Requirements\n::Requirements Mgmt and Communication knowledge area
What are the elements of the Specify and Model Requirements task? ::Text\n::Matrix
Documentation\n::Models\n::Capture Requirements Attributes\n::Improvement Opportunities
The Text element must describe what? Te capabilities of the solution, any conditions that must exist for
the requirement to operate, and any constraints that may prevent the solution from fulfilling the
requirement
A table or matrix is used to document requirements when? When business analyst is looking to
convey a set of requirements that have a complex but uniform structure which can be broken down into
elements that apply to every entry in the table
What aspects of requirements are often expressed in tabular form? ::Attributes\n::Data
Dictionaries\n::Traceability\n::Prioritization data
A WHAT is any simplified representation of a complex reality that is useful for understanding that reality
and making decisions regarding it? A model
What are two things that help determine which type of model to use? The people that make up the
receiving audience and the type of information being communicated
What is the difference between an informal model and a formal model? An informal model does not
have a formal semantic definition and instead connects elements in ways that are meaningful for the
analyst and the audience\n\nA formal model follows semantics and iconography that are defined in a
standard to indicate the meaning of each model element
What are some potential improvement opportunities that might be identified and captured during the
Specify and Model Requirements task? :: Automate Or Simplify The Work People Perform\n:: Improve
Access To Information\n:: Reduce Complexity Of Interfaces\n:: Increase Consistency Of Behavior\n::
Eliminate Redundancy
What are the techniques used in the Specify and Model Requirements task? There are several
techniques that are part of the general techniques category:\nAcceptance and Evaluation Criteria
Definition \nBusiness Rules Analysis \nData Dictionary and Glossary \nData Flow Diagrams \nData
Modeling \nFunctional Decomposition \nInterface Analysis \nMetrics and Key Performance Indicators
\nNonfunctional Requirements Analysis \nOrganization Modeling \nProcess Modeling \nPrototyping
\nScenarios and Use Cases \nSequence Diagrams \nState Diagrams \nUser Stories
What is the purpose of the Define Assumptions and Constraints task? Identify factors other than
requirements that may affect which solutions are viable.
Assumptions are defined as what? Assumptions are factors that are believed to be true, but have
not been confirmed
What is associated with assumptions that must be validated by the analyst? Risk
Constraints are defined as what? Constraints are defined as restrictions or limitations on possible
solutions.
Solution constraints describe what? Aspects of the current state, or planned future state that may
not be changed
What are the inputs to the Define Assumptions and Constraints task? Stakeholder Concerns
What are the elements used in the Define Assumptions and Constraints task? There are
3\n::Assumptions\n::Business Constraints\n::Technical Constraints
Business Constraints can reflect what type of information? ::budgetary restrictions\n::time
restrictions\n::limits on the number of resources available\n::restrictions based on the skills of the
project team and the stakeholders\n::a requirement that certain stakeholders not be affected by the
implementation of the solution\n::or any other organizational restriction
Technical constraints include what? Any architecture decisions that are made that may impact the
design of the solution
Technical constraints may also describe restrictions such as what? :: resource
utilization\n::message size\n::timing\n::software size\n::maximum number of and size of files\n::records
and data elements
What is the output of the Define Assumptions and Constraints task? Assumptions and Constraints
What tasks consume Assumptions and Constraints? There are 4\n::Define Solution Scope\n::Define
Business Case\n::Assess Proposed Solution\n::Requirements Mgmt and Communication knowledge area
What is the purpose of the Verify Requirements task? Requirements verification ensures that
requirements specifications and models meet the necessary standard of quality to allow them to be
used effectively to guide further work
Verifying requirements ensures what? The requirements have been defined correctly and are of
acceptable quality
Requirements verification constitutes a final check by the business analyst and key stakeholders to
determine that the requirements are what? Ready for formal review and validation by the
customers and users and provide all the information needed for further work based on the
requirements to be performed
What are the inputs to the Verify Requirements task? Requirements [Any Except Stated]
The Verify Requirements task produces what output? Requirements [Verified]
What tasks consume verified requirements? ::Validate Requirements\n::Requirements Mgmt and
Communication knowledge area
What are the elements used in the Verify Requirements task? There are 2:\n::Characteristics of
Requirements Quality\n::Verification Activities
A high quality requirement exhibits what characteristics?
::Cohesive\n::Complete\n::Consistent\n::Correct\n::Feasible\n::Modifiable\n::Unambiguous\n::
Testable
The feasibility of a requirement is concerned with what? That the requirement must be implementable
within the existing infrastructure, with the existing budget, timeline and resources available to the team
or the project must develop the capability to implement the requirement
Are verification activities of requirements performed in a singular fashion or iteratively? Iteratively
throughout the requirements analysis process
Verification activities include what? ::Check for completeness within each requirements
model\n::Compare each prepared requirements model (textual or graphical) against all other prepared
requirements models\n:: Variations to the documented processes have been identified and
documented\n:: All triggers and outcomes have been accounted for in all variations\n:: Terminology
used in expressing the requirement is understandable to stakeholders and consistent\n:: Examples are
added where appropriate for clarification
What are the techniques used in the Verify Requirements task? There are 2:\n::General techniques
(includes Acceptance and Evaluation Criteria Definition, Problem Tracking, Structured Walkthrough)\n::
Checklists
What is the purpose of a checklist? The purpose of a checklist is to ensure that items that the
organization or project team has determined are important are included in the final requirements
deliverable(s)
What is the purpose of the Validate Requirements task? To ensure that all requir+B16ements support
the delivery of value to the business, fulfill its goals and objectives, and meet a stakeholder need.
Does Requirements Validation once or throughout the life of the project? Throughout in an
ongoing basis
To be a valid requirement, it must do what? Contribute directly or indirectly to the business case
What are the inputs to the Validate Requirements task? There are 2\n::Business Case\n::Stakeholder
Solution or Transition Requirements [verified]
Validated requirements are consumed by what tasks? ::Validate Solution\n::Requirements Mgmt and
Communication knowledge area
What are the elements of the Validate Requirements task? There are 5\n::identify
Assumptions\n::Define Measurable Criteria\n::Determine Business Value\n::Determine Dependencies
for Benefit Realization\n::Evaluate Alignment with Business Case and Opportunity Cost
Assumptions must be identified to manage what? Risk
Evaluation Criteria are used to do what during Validate Requirements? They are create and used to
measure the solution following deployment against the forecasted benefits from the start of the project
True or False: Besides the Business Case, it is possible to assess individual requirements or features to
determine business value TRUE
A requirement that does not deliver direct or indirect value to a stakeholder is a strong candidate for
what? Elimination
True or False: Business value can be delivered through requirements that support compliance with
regulatory or other standards, alignment with internal standards or policies of the organization, or
increased satisfaction for stakeholders, even if those things do not have a direct measurable financial
benefit. TRUE
True or False: All requirements contribute directly to the end result desired by the organization and
described in the business case FALSE
Can a requirement hold value for a stakeholder yet not be part of a delivered solution. Yes, but if it is
not aligned with the business case should be defined and approved in a separate business case, or
considered for removal from the solution scope
Each requirement must be traceable to what? The objectives in the business case
At the project level, opportunity cost refers to what? The benefits that could have been achieved
with an alternative investment rather than this one.
The opportunity cost of any decision is equal to what? The value of the best alternative use of those
resources
What are the techniques in the Validate Requirements task? There are 5:\n:: Acceptance and
Evaluation Criteria Definition\n:: Metrics and Key Performance Indicators\n:: Prototyping\n:: Risk
Analysis\n:: Structured Walkthrough
The Solution Assessment and Validation Knowledge Area describes what? The tasks that are
performed in order to ensure that solutions meet the business need and to facilitate their successful
implementation
What is the responsibility of the business analyst during Solution Assessment and Validation?
Ensuring that stakeholders fully understand the solution requirements and that implementation
decisions are aligned with the relevant requirements
What are the tasks in the Solution Assessment and Validation knowledge area? There are 6\n::Assess
Proposed Solution\n::Allocate Requirements\n::Assess Organizational Readiness\n::Define Transition
Requirements\n::Validate Solution\n::Evaluate Solution Performance
What is the purpose of the Assess Proposed Solution task? To assess proposed solutions in order to
determine how closely they meet stakeholder and solution requirements
Is Solution Assessment performed on a single or multiple solutions? Both. It may be used to
compare multiple solutions or to assess a single solution
What are the inputs to the Assess Proposed Solution task? There are 3\n::Assumptions and
Constraints\n::Requirements [prioritized and approved]\n::Solution Option(s)
What is the output of the Assess Proposed Solution task? Assessment of Proposed Solution
What tasks consume the Assessment of Proposed Solution? Solution Selection or Design
What are the elements of the Assess Proposed Solution task? ::Ranking of Solution
Options\n::Identification of Additional Potential Capabilities
What are the techniques of the Assess Proposed Solution task? There are 3\n:: Acceptance and
Evaluation Criteria Definition\n:: Decision Analysis\n:: Vendor Assessment
Why is vendor assessment a technique as part of the Assess Proposed Solution task? To ensure that
all parties will be able to develop and maintain a healthy working relationship
What is a potential suggestion as part of the Solution Assessment if no solution delivers appropriate
value? To terminate the initiative or do nothing.
What is the purpose of the Allocate Requirements task? Allocate stakeholder and solution requirements
among solution components and releases in order to maximize the possible business value given the
options and alterna-tives generated by the design team.

Requirements allocation is defined as what? Te process of assigning stakeholder and solution
requirements to solution components and to releases
Allocation is performed after assessing what? Assessment tradeoffs between alternatives in order to
maximize benefits and minimize costs
What are the inputs of the Allocate Requirements task? There are 3:\n::Requirements [prioritized and
approved]\n::Solution [designed]\n::Solution Scope
Allocated Requirements are consumed by what tasks? ::Requirements Mgt. and Communication
\n::Solution Selection or Design
Requirements may be allocated between or over what? ::Organizational units\n::between job
functions\n::between people and software\n::software application components \n::releases of a
solution.
To prevent scope revision, what must the allocation of requirements match? The associated
stakeholder and solution requirements
What are the elements of the Allocate Requirements task? There are 2\n::Solution
Components\n::Release Planning
What are some examples of solution components? ::Business policies and business
rules\n::Business processes to be performed and managed\n::People who operate and maintain the
solution, including their job functions and responsibilities\n::Software applications and application
components used in the solution.\n::Structure of the organization, including interactions between the
organization, its customers, and its suppliers
The allocation of requirements to solution components will be a primary driver of what? The cost to
implement the solution and the benefits delivered by it.
During solution design, why might it become necessary to revisit the initial allocation of functionality
between components as defined in the solution scope? The cost to implement each component
becomes better understood, and to determine which allocations have the best cost/benefit ratio.
Analyst assessment of whether the allocation represents the most effective tradeoffs between delivery
options involves what considerations? ::Available resources\n::Constraints on the
Solution\n::Dependencies Between Requirements
What types of factors are considerations of release planning? ::overall project budget\n::the need to
implement a solution or parts of the solution by a certain date\n::resource constraints\n::training
schedule \n::ability for the business to absorb changes within a defined timeframe.
What are the techniques used in the Allocate Requirements task? There are 6\n:: Acceptance and
Evaluation Criteria Definition\n:: Business Rules Analysis\n:: Decision Analysis\n:: Functional
Decomposition\n:: Process Modeling\n:: Scenarios and Use Cases
Why would process modeling be a part of allocation of requirements? Activities in the process model
may be allocated to different roles, or outsourced to a supplier. A solution can be developed that
incrementally supports some subprocesses or activities
What is the involvement of the Implementation SME during the Allocate Requirements task? The
role is responsible for the design and construction of some or all solution components and the
estimation of the work required. It will also make recommendations regarding the allocation of
requirement
Allocated requirements are associated with what? A solution component that will implement
them.
What is the purpose of the Assess Organizational Readiness task? Assess whether the
organization is ready to make effective use of a new solution.
An organizational readiness assessment describes what? The effect a new solution will have on
an organization and whether the organization is prepared for the organizational change that the
solution implementation will cause
What should the business analyst understand to assess organizational readiness? ::what changes
will occur in the business area\n::technical infrastructure or processes \n::how these affect other
business units or operations
What are the inputs to the Assess Organizational Readiness task? There are 4\n::Enterprise
Architecture\n::Solution [designed]\n::Solution Scope\n::Stakeholder Concerns
What is the output of the Organizational Readiness Assessment? Duh! The organizational
readiness assessment
What tasks consume the Organizational Readiness Assessment? Define Transition Requirements
Why is the Enterprise Architecture an important input into the Assess Organizational Readiness task?
It describes the current state of the enterprise, including the organizational structure, business
processes, systems, information, etc.
What are the elements used in the Assess Organizational Readiness task? There are 3\n::Cultural
Assessment\n::Operational or Technical Assessment\n::Stakeholder Impact Analysis
What occurs in a cultural assessment? A determination is made of the stakeholders attitudes, beliefs,
willingness to change and other factors that could pose potential obstacles to solution implementation.
What occurs in a Operational or Technical Assessment? A determination of whether the organization is
able to take advantage of the capabilities provided by the new solution is made. There is also an
evaluation of whether stakeholders are prepared to make use of the new solution and whether there
must be training/policy/process changes to accompany the new solution
What are some of the considerations of stakeholder impact analysis? :Stakeholder Group
functions\n::Geographic Location of Stakeholder Groups\n::Tasks performed by specific
stakeholders\n::Concerns about the stakeholder groups usability requirements, preferences, and their
proficiency level regarding interaction with computer systems
What are the techniques used in the Assess Organizational Readiness task? ::General Techniques
(including Acceptance and Evaluation Criteria Definition, Data Flow Diagrams, Process Models, Focus
Groups, Interviews, Survey/Questionnaire, Organization Modeling, Problem Tracking, Risk Analysis,
SWOT Analysis)\n:: Force Field Analysis
What is Force Field Analysis? A graphical method for depicting the forces that support and oppose a
change by identifying the forces that support and oppose a change, depicting them on opposite sides of
a line, and then estimating the strength of each force in order to assess which set of forces are stronger
What does the Organizational Change Management SME do during the Assess Organizational Readiness
task? Assists organizations with communicating change to their stakeholders and creating support
among those stakeholders for the change.
In general, the Organizational Readiness Assessment describes what? Whether stakeholders are
prepared to accept the change associated with a solution and are able to use it effectively. May lead to
revisions in solution or project scope
What is the purpose of the Define Transition Requirements task? To define requirements for
capabilities needed to transition from an existing solution to a new solution
Why couldnt the project just utilize the normal requirement set, instead of developing transition
requirements? During the transition period (the time when both the old and new solutions are
operational), the enterprise may need to operate both solutions in parallel, move information between
the new and old solution, conduct training to enable stakeholders to effectively operate the new
solution, and so forth.
Transition requirements cannot be defined until what occurs? The solution has been designed
Transition requirements remain relevant for how long? Only during the transition period between the
existing and new solutions. They are then discarded
Are transition requirements developed using other methods that normal requirements are not? No
Transition requirements are elicited, analyzed, managed, and communicated by performing the same
tasks as for other requirements.
What are the inputs to the Define Transition Requirements task? There are 4:\n::Organizational
Readiness Assessment\n::Requirements [stated]\n::Solution [deployed]\n::Solution [designed]
Transition Requirements are consumed by what tasks? ::Prioritize Requirements\n::Verify
Requirements\n::Requirements Mgmt and Communication knowledge area
Why is the deployed solution an input to defining transition requirements? The deployed (or
existing) solution will be investigated to understand what needs to be transitioned to the new solution
What are the elements used in the Define Transition Requirements task? There are
3\n::Data\n::Ongoing Work\n::Organizational Change
Why must the data element be evaluated during creation of transition requirements? There must be
a determination of whether the data must be migrated and/or converted for the new solution to
function
Organizational change management generally refers to what? To a process and set of tools for
managing change at an organizational level.
Why is the analysis of organizational change necessary when creating transition requirements?
Organizational units may be significantly impacted by the new solution and will need to have
processes changed to be able to take advantage of the new solution
What are the techniques used in the Define Transition Requirements task? There are 3\n::Business
Rules Analysis\n::Data Flow Diagrams, Process Modeling, Organizational Modeling\n::Data Modeling
What stakeholder receives noticeable negative impact if information is incorrectly transferred from the
old to new solution? The customer
Transition requirements describe what? Capabilities that must be developed in order for an organization
to successfully transition between solutions.
What is the purpose of the Validate Solution task? Validate that a solution meets the business
need and determine the most appropriate response to identified defects
Solution validation is required to do what? Ensure that a delivered solution meets the business
needs on an ongoing basis
What are the outputs of the Validate Solution task? There are 3\n::Identified Defects\n::Mitigating
Actions\n::Solution Validation Assessment
Identified defects that are an output of the Validate Solution task are consumed by what task?
Evaluate Solution Performance
Mitigating Actions and Solution Performance Assessments that are outputs of the Validate Solution
tasks are consumed by what task? Solution Implementation
What are the elements of the Validate Solution task? There are 2\n::Investigate Defective Solution
Outputs\n::Assess Defects and Issues
When it can be determined that the solution is consistently producing defective outputs, its time to
utilize what technique? Root Cause Analysis
When performing root cause analysis as part of the Validate Solution task, what stakeholder may be
involved? Implementation SME
Defects are reviewed with what considerations in mind? ::determining the severity of the defect, the
probability of the occurrence of the defect\n::the severity of the business impact\n::the capacity of the
business to absorb the impact of the defects
What are the techniques used in the Validate Solution task? There are 3\n:: Acceptance and
Evaluation Criteria Definition\n:: Root Cause Analysis\n:: Problem Tracking
What is the definition of a mitigating action? Steps that can be taken, or processes that can be
followed, to reduce or eliminate the effect an identified defect has on a stakeholder or stakeholder
group.
What is the purpose of the Evaluate Solution Performance task? Evaluate functioning solutions to
understand the value they deliver and identify opportunities for improvement
Solution evaluation involves what? Investigating how a solution is actually used after it is deployed,
and assessing the effect it has had, both positive and negative
When performed immediately following the completion of a project, Solution evaluation is also known
as what? Postimplementation assessment
What are the inputs to the Evaluate Solution performance task? There are 4+B20Business
Requirements\n::Identified Defects\n::Solution Performance Metrics\n::Solution [deployed]
What is the role that business requirements play when evaluating solution performance? They
form the baseline for functionality to compare against what the system is actually doing
Solution Performance Metrics represent what? The criteria by which the performance of the solution is
to be assessed
There are two types of solution performance metrics. What are they? Qualitative and Quantitative
What are examples of Qualitative solution performance metrics? Measures of time, volume,
revenue, errors found
What are examples of Quantitative solution performance metrics? User or customer satisfaction,
recommendations
The Evaluate Solution performance task cannot be performed until what occurs? The solution
has been deployed
What are the elements of the Evaluate Solution Performance task? There are 3:\n::Understand
Value Delivered by Solution\n::Validate Solution Metrics\n::Solution Replacement or Elimination
What does the element Understand Value Delivered by Solution consist of? The analyst must gather
the actual metrics that describe the performance of the solution in order to determine whether the
system is performing optimally, underperforming or overperforming
Why is an additional validation of the metrics that are used to validate the solution necessary? There
are occasions in which the metrics are not properly defined or aligned with the solution; thus the
reporting of the metric data becomes skewed
Why might the solution be a candidate for elimination? This may occur because an IT system or other
technology component has reached the end of its useful life, services are being insourced or outsourced,
the solution is not fulfilling the business goals set for it
What are issues that impact the decision about replacing a solution? :: Ongoing Cost versus Initial
Investment\n:: Opportunity Cost\n:: Necessity\n:: Sunk Cost
What is sunk cost? It describes the money and effort already committed to an initiative
Sunk Cost is irrelevant when considering future action why? Because the cost cannot be recovered
What is an example of Necessity with regard to making a decision about solution replacement?
Obsolescence. There are occasions where the cost of maintaining a current solution is too high
or the capability to do so is impossible
What is Opportunity Cost? It represents the potential value that could be realized by pursuing
alternative courses of action
What are the techniques used in the Evaluate Solution Performance task? There are 4:\n::Decision
Analysis\n::Focus Groups\n::Observation\n::Survey/Questionnaire
How is the Operational Support stakeholder utilized in the Evaluate Solution Performance task? This
person will be involved in monitoring the performance and effectiveness of a solution or its
components.
What is the purpose of the Underlying Competencies knowledge area? It provides a description of the
behaviors, characteristics, knowledge and personal qualities that support the practice of business
analysis
What are the types of Underlying Competencies? There are 6:\n:: Analytical Thinking and
Problem Solving\n:: Behavioral Characteristics\n:: Business Knowledge\n:: Communication Skills\n::
Interaction Skills\n:: Software Applications
What are the various forms of the Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving underlying competency?
There are 5:\n::Creative Thinking\n::Decision Making\n::Learning\n::Problem Solving\n::Systems
Thinking
What is the purpose of creative thinking? To be effective in generating new ideas for approaches
to problem solving and in generating alternative solutions
What are the measures of effectiveness of creative thinking? ::Successful generation and productive
consideration of new ideas.\n::Application of new ideas to resolve existing problems.\n::Willingness of
stakeholders to accept new approaches.
What is the purpose of decision making? Business analysts must be effective in understanding
the criteria involved in making a decision, in making decisions, and in assisting others to make better
decisions
When is a decision necessary? Whenever it becomes necessary to select an alternative or approach
from two or more options
Decision Analysis includes what? ::gathering information relevant to a decision\n::breaking down
the information relevant to a decision\n::making comparisons and tradeoffs between similar and
dissimilar options\n::identifying the option that is most desirable.
When making decisions or analyzing options for a decision, business analysts must be aware of what
kind of traps? ::those that can impede successful decisionmaking, including the tendency to accept
the initial framing of a problem\n::the sunk cost fallacy\n::the tendency to place greater weight on
evidence that confirms existing impressions.
What is the purpose of learning? Business analysts must be effective at learning about business
domains and how they function, and then translate that learning into an understanding of how to
benefit an organization.
What is the official definition of learning, according to the BABOK 2.0? The process of gaining
knowledge or skills.
With regard to business analysis, a business analyst must be able to describe what? Level of
understanding of the business domain and be capable of applying that level of understanding to
determine which analysis activities need to be performed in a given situation
Once learning about a domain, the business analyst must be able to do what? Be able to synthesize
the information to identify opportunities to create new solutions and evaluate those solutions to ensure
that they are effective.
What are the effectiveness measures of learning? ::Agreement by stakeholders that analysis
models effectively and completely describe the domain\n::Identification of related problems or issues
from multiple areas in the domain\n::Rapid absorption of new information or new domains.
What is the purpose of problem solving? Business analysts must be effective at defining and
solving problems in order to ensure that the real, underlying problem is understood and that solutions
actually address that problem
Defining a problem involves what? Ensuring that the nature of the problem is clearly understood by
all parties and that underlying issues are visible
How does an analyst ensure all parties understand the nature of a problem that is to be solved?
::Articulate and address conflicts between goals and objectives\n::Identify and test underlying
assumptions
What are the measures of effectiveness of problem solving? ::Confidence of the participants in the
problemsolving process that a selected solution is correct\n::New solution options can be evaluated
effectively using the problem solving framework\n::Selected solutions meet the defined objectives and
solve the underlying problem.\n::The problemsolving process avoids making decisions based on
preconceived notions, organizational politics, or other traps that may cause a suboptimal solution to be
selected.

What is the purpose of Systems Thinking? Business analysts must be effective at understanding
how the people, processes and technology within an organization interact in relationships and patterns
to create a system as a whole
Systems theory and systems thinking suggest what? That the system as a whole will have properties,
behaviors and characteristics that emerge from the interaction of the components of the system, and
which are not predictable from an understanding of the components alone
The term system includes what factors? :: the people involved\n::the interactions between them\n::the
external forces affecting their behavior\n::all other relevant elements and factors
What are the measures of effectiveness of system thinking? ::Understanding of how a change to a
component affects the system as a whole\n::Identification of reinforcing and compensating feedback
loops\n::Understanding of how systems adapt to external pressures and changes
What are the types of the underlying competency behavioral characteristics? There are
3:\n::Ethics\n::Personal organization\n::Trustworthiness
What is the purpose of ethics? A business analyst must be able to behave ethically in order to earn the
trust and respect of stakeholders, and be able to recognize when a proposed solution or requirement
may present ethical difficulties.
Ethics requires an understanding of what? ::moral and immoral behavior\n::the standards that
should govern ones behavior\n::the willingness to act to ensure that ones behavior is moral or meets
those standards
Why are ethics an important part of an analysts underlying competencies? Business analysts need
to consider the impact that a proposed solution will have on all stakeholder groups and work to ensure
that those groups are treated fairly
Fair treatment requires what? ::that the affected stakeholders understand the reasons for the
decision\n::that they are not deceived about the outcome\n::that decisions which are made are made in
the best interest of the organization
What are the measures of effectiveness of ethics? ::Decisions are made with due consideration to
the interests of all stakeholders\n::Reasons for a decision are clearly articulated and
understood\n::Prompt and full disclosure of potential conflicts of interest\n::Honesty regarding ones
abilities, the performance of ones work, and accepting responsibility for failures or errors.
What is the purpose of personal organization? Personal organization skills assist the business analyst in
effectively managing tasks and information.
Personal organization involves what? ::the ability to readily find files or
information\n::timeliness\n::management of outstanding tasks\n::appropriate handling of priorities
Effective time management requires what characteristics? ::effective time management requires
effective prioritization\n::elimination of procrastination\n::clarity of goals and expectations
What are some common approaches toward good time management? ::action plans\n::todo lists
\n::setting priorities
What are the effectiveness measures of personal organization? ::Ability of the business analyst to find
information\n::Regular ontime completion of tasks\n::Efficiency in the completion of work\n::The
ability to easily identify all outstanding work and the status of each work item.
What is the purpose of trustworthiness? Earning the trust of key stakeholders is necessary to
ensure that the business analyst is able to elicit requirements around sensitive issues and to ensure that
recommendations are evaluated properly.
What are the measures of effectiveness of trustworthiness? ::Stakeholders involving the business
analyst in decisionmaking\n::Stakeholder acceptance of the business analysts
recommendations\n::Willingness of stakeholders to discuss difficult or controversial topics with the
business analyst\n::Willingness of stakeholders to support or defend the business analyst when
problems occur.
What are the forms of the Business Knowledge underlying competency? There are 3:\n::Business
Principles and Practices\n::Industry Knowledge\n::Organization Knowledge
What is the purpose of Business Principles and Practices? Business analysts require an
understanding of fundamental business principles and best practices, in order to ensure that they are
incorporated into and supported by solutions.
Business principles are what? Business principles are those characteristics that are common to all
organizations with a similar purpose and structure, whether or not they are in the same industry. They
typically apply to many common areas in an organization.
What are some of the common functional areas in an organization? ::Human
Resources\n::Finance\n:Information Technology\n::Supply Chain Mgmt
What is the purpose of Industry Knowledge? Business analysts should have an understanding of the
industry that their organization is in so that they may understand new challenges that may be posed by
competitive moves, and which solutions have proven effective elsewhere.
Industry Knowledge is defined as what? The understanding of the competitive forces that shape an
industry
What must a business analyst understand to have an effective industry knowledge base?
::various customer segments that the industry services \n::demographic or other characteristics
common to that segment\n::common industry trends
What is the purpose of Organization Knowledge? Business analysis is significantly assisted by an
understanding of the organization for which it is being performed.
Organization Knowledge is defined how? Organization knowledge is an understanding of the
business architecture of the organization that is being analyzed
Organization Knowledge includes what factors? ::understanding of the business models that the
organization (that is, how the organization generates profits or otherwise accomplishes its goals)\n::the
organizational structure that is in place, \n::the relationships that exist between business units\n::and
the persons who occupy key stakeholder positions\n::informal lines of communication and authority
What is the purpose of Solution Knowledge? Business analysts can use their understanding of
existing solutions in order to identify the most effective means of implementing a change.
Why is solution knowledge important for a business analyst? A business analyst who is familiar with
the workings of a solution may be able to more easily identify and recommend changes that can be
implemented easily while still providing concrete benefits. Familiarity with the range of commercially
available solutions or suppliers can assist with the identification of possible alternatives
What are the effectiveness measures of solution knowledge? ::Reduced time or cost to implement a
required change\n::Shortened time on requirements analysis and/or solution design\n::Understanding
when a larger change is justified based on business benefit\n::Understanding how additional capabilities
present, but not currently used, in a solution can be deployed to provide business value.
What are the various types of Communication Skills? There are 3:\n::Oral
Communication\n::Teaching\n::Written Communication
What is the purpose of Oral Communication? Oral communication skills enable business analysts to
effectively express ideas in ways that are appropriate to the target audience.
Oral communication skills are used to do what? Verbally express ideas, information, or other matters
Effective oral communication skills include what? The ability to make oneself understood and the
active listening skills that ensure that the statements of others are accurately understood.
What are the effectiveness measures of oral communication? ::Effectively paraphrasing statements to
ensure understanding\n::Effectively facilitating sessions, ensuring success through preparedness and
coordination\n::Developing and delivering powerful presentations by positioning content and objectives
appropriately (i.e. positive verses negative tone)\n::Can communicate the criticality or urgency of a
situation in a calm, rational manner with proposed solutions.
What is the purpose of teaching? Teaching skills are required to ensure that business analysts can
effectively communicate issues and requirements and to ensure that the information communicated is
understood and retained
Teaching requires an understanding of what? How people learn and the ability to use this
understanding to effectively facilitate the learning experience
What are the three types of learning? ::auditory\n::visual\n::kinesthetic
What are the effectiveness measures of teaching? ::Verifying that learners have acquired
information that has been imparted to them\n::Ability of learners to use new skills or demonstrate new
knowledge.
What is the purpose of written communication? Written communication skills are necessary for business
analysts to document elicitation results, requirements, and other information for which mediumto
long term records are required.
Written communication involves the use of what? Symbols to communicate information. It
includes the ability to write effectively for various contexts and audiences
Written communication is required when? When information will be used at a time or place that is
remote from the time and place it was created
What are the effectiveness measures of written communication? ::Ability to adjust the style of
writing for the needs of the audience\n::Proper use of grammar and style\n::Appropriate choice of
words\n::Ability of the reader to paraphrase and describe the content of the written communication.
What are the various types of Interaction Skills? There are 3:\n::Facilitation and
Negotiation\n::Leadership and Influencing\n::Teamwork
Leadership involves motivating people to do what? Act in ways that enable them to work together
to achieve shared goals and objectives
Effective leadership therefore requires that the business analyst be able to do what? Develop a
vision of a desired future state that people can be motivated to work towards and the interpersonal
skills necessary to encourage them to do so
What are the effectiveness measures of Leadership and Influencing? ::Reduced resistance to
necessary changes\n::Team members and stakeholders demonstrating a willingness to set aside
personal objectives when necessary\n::Articulation of a clear and inspiring vision of a desired future
state.
What is the purpose of teamwork? Business analysts must be able to work closely with other team
members to effectively support their work so that solutions can be effectively implemented
Communications and trust can also be enhanced through understanding and awareness of facets such
as? The process of setting of rules for the team, team decisionmaking, formal and informal team
leadership and management roles.
What are the two types of conflict? The basic types of conflict are emotional and cognitive.
Emotional conflict stems from what? Personal interactions, while cognitive conflicts are based upon
disagreements on matters of substantive value or impact on the project or organization
Resolution of cognitive conflict requires the team to focus on what? Examining the premises,
assumptions, observations and expectations of the team members
What are the effectiveness measures of teamwork? ::Fostering a collaborative working
environment\n::Effective resolution of conflict\n::Developing trust among team members\n::Support
among the team for shared high standards of achievement\n::Team members have a shared sense of
ownership of the team goals.
What are the types of Software Applications? There are 2:\n::General Purpose\n::Specialized
What are general purpose applications? Business analysts use office productivity applications to
document and track requirements.
What are the three categories of general purpose applications? These applications generally consist of
three components in a suite of tools: word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software.
What is the purpose of collaboration and knowledge management tools? Collaboration and
knowledge management tools are used to support the capturing of knowledge distributed throughout
an organization and make it as widely available as possible.
What are some examples of collaboration tools? ::document repositories (which integrate with
office productivity software)\n::wikis (which allow easy creation and link-ing of web pages)\n::discussion
forums.
What are the effectiveness measures of general purpose applications? ::Ability to apply an
understanding of one tool to other similar tools\n::Able to identify major tools in the marketplace and
describe how they are used in any given situation.\n::Understands and is able to use most of the major
features of the tool\n::Able to use the tools to complete requirementsrelated activities more rapidly
than is possible without them.
Diagramming tools are designed to do what? Support the rapid drawing and documentation of a
model, typically by providing a set of templates for a particular notation which are used to develop
diagrams based on it
Modeling tools facilitate the conversion of the model into a what? Executable form, either by use
of a proprietary engine for executing the model or by generating application code which can be
enhanced by a developer.
What is the primary function of requirements management tools? Requirements management
tools are used to support change control, traceability, and configuration management of requirements
and requirements artifacts.
What are the effectiveness measures of specialized software? ::Ability to apply an understanding of
one tool to other similar tools\n::Able to identify major tools in the marketplace and describe how they
are used in any given situation.\n::Understands and is able to use most of the major features of the
tool\n::Able to use the tools to complete requirementsrelated activities more rapidly than is possible
without them.\n::Able to track changes to the requirements made through the tools.
According to the BABOK 2.0, techniques offer what to the business analyst? Techniques alter the
way a business analysis task is performed or describe a specific form the output of a task may take.
What is the purpose of the Acceptance and Evaluation Criteria technique? To define the
requirements that must be met in order for a solution to be considered acceptable to key stakeholders.
Acceptance Criteria is defined as what? Acceptance criteria describe the minimal set of requirements
that must be met in order for a particular solution to be worth implementing
Evaluation criteria are what? Evaluation criteria are the set of requirements that will be used to
choose between multiple solutions.
When are acceptance criteria used? Acceptance criteria are typically used when only one possible
solution is being evaluated and are generally expressed as a pass or fail.
When are evaluation criteria used? Evaluation criteria are used to compare multiple solutions or
solution components and allow for a range of possible scores
What are the elements of acceptance and evaluation criteria? There are 2:\n::Testability\n::Determine
Rank and Scoring
What does testability mean? That the requirements are able to be tested and are expressed in a
testable form
What is ranking? Ranking is the process of determining the order of importance for all
requirements
What technique is commonly used for ranking? Moscow
What is scoring? Scoring is the process of determining how well a solution meets a requirement
In ranking and scoring, who must agree not only on the criteria, but how the solution will be rated
against them? All stakeholders
What are the advantages of acceptance and evaluation criteria? ::Agile methodologies may require that
all requirements be expressed in the form of testable acceptance criteria.\n::Acceptance criteria are also
necessary when the requirements express contractual obligations.
What are the disadvantages of acceptance and evaluation criteria? Acceptance and evaluation
criteria may express contractual obligations and as such may be difficult to change for legal or political
reasons
What is the purpose of benchmarking? Benchmark studies are performed to compare the strengths and
weaknesses of an organization against its peers and competitors
Benchmark studies compare what? Organizational practices against the bestinclass practices that
exist within competitor enterprises in government or industry.
The objective of benchmark studies is to determine what? How companies achieve their superior
performance levels and use that information to design projects to improve operations of the enterprise
Benchmarking is usually focused on what three things? strategies, operations and processes
What is an advantage of benchmarking? Benchmarking provides organizations with information about
new and different methods, ideas, and tools to improve organizational performance
What are the disadvantages of benchmarking? :: time consuming\n::must have experience
performing\n::cannot produce innovative ideas
What is the purpose of the Brainstorming technique? Brainstorming is an excellent way to foster
creative thinking about a problem. The aim of brainstorming is to produce numerous new ideas, and to
derive from them themes for further analysis.
What are the elements of brainstorming? There are 3:\n::Preparation\n::Session\n::Wrapup
What kind of preparation is needed for a brainstorming session? ::Develop a clear and concise definition
of the area of interest\n::Determine a time limit for the group to generate ideas; the larger the group,
the more time required. Identify facilitator and participants in session\n::Aim for participants (ideally 6
to 8) who represent a range of background and experience with the topic.\n::Set expectations with
participants and get their buy in to the process\n::Establish criteria for evaluating and rating the ideas
What are the things that are important to the session element for brainstorming? ::Share new
ideas without any discussion, criticism or evaluation\n::Visibly record all ideas\n::Encourage participants
to be creative, share exaggerated ideas, and build on the ideas of others.\n::Dont limit the number of
ideas as the goal is to elicit as many as possible within the time period.
What occurs in a brainstorming session wrapup? ::Once the time limit is reached, using the pre
determined evaluation criteria, discuss and evaluate the ideas\n::Create a condensed list of ideas,
combine ideas where appropriate, and eliminate duplicates\n::Rate the ideas. Distribute the final list of
ideas to appropriate parties.
What are the disadvantages of a brainstorming session? ::Dependent on participants creativity and
willingness to participate. Organizational and interpersonal politics may also limit participation\n::Group
participants must agree to avoid debating the ideas raised during brainstorming.
What are the measures of effectiveness for Business Principles and Practices? ::Understanding of
business environments, operations, process and practices relating to Common business management
and decision making concepts, principles activities and practices; typical organization structures, job
functions and work activities; complex business functions and operations\n::Understanding of relevant
regulatory, compliance, and governance frameworks\n::Understanding of auditing and security issues
What are the effectiveness measures of industry knowledge? ::Understanding of industry related
material and keeps abreast of what is taking place in the industry\n::The ability to identify key trends
shaping the industry\n::Knowledge of major competitors and partners for the
organization\n::Knowledge of major customer segments\n::Knowledge of common products and
product types\n::Knowledge of sources of information about the industry, including relevant trade
organizations or journals\n::Understanding of industryspecific resource and process
documents\n::Understanding of industry standard processes and methodologies\n::Understanding of
the industry regulatory environment.
What are the three types of specialized tools mentioned in the BABOK 2.0?
::Diagramming\n::Modeling\n::Requirements Management
Name all 34 techniques in the BABOK 2.0 ::Acceptance and Evaluation Criteria Definition
\n::Benchmarking \n::Brainstorming \n::Business Rules Analysis \n::Data Dictionary and Glossary
\n::Data Flow Diagrams \n::Data Modeling \n::Decision Analysis \n::Document Analysis \n::Estimation
\n::Focus Groups \n::Functional Decomposition \n::Interface Analysis \n::Interviews \n::Lessons Learned
Process \n::Metrics and Key Performance Indicators \n::Nonfunctional Requirements Analysis
\n::Observation \n::Organization Modeling \n::Problem Tracking \n::Process Modeling \n::Prototyping
\n::Requirements Workshops \n::Risk Analysis \n::Root Cause Analysis \n::Scenarios and Use Cases
\n::Scope Modeling \n::Sequence Diagrams \n::State Diagrams \n::Structured Walkthrough
\n::Survey/Questionnaire \n::SWOT Analysis \n::User Stories \n::Vendor Assessment
What are the advantages of a brainstorming session? ::Ability to elicit many ideas in a short time
period\n::Nonjudgmental environment enables creative thinking\n::Can be useful during a workshop
to reduce tension between participants
What is the purpose of the Business Rules Analysis technique? To define the rules that govern
decisions in an organization and that define, constrain, or enable organizational operations
What is a business policy? A business policy is a nonactionable directive that supports a business
goal
What occurs in business rules analysis? Policies and rules direct and constrain the organization and
operation of an organization
What is the definition of a business rule? A business rule is a specific, actionable, testable
directive that is under the control of an organization and that supports a business policy
A decision table or decision tree is used for what? Expression and display of complex rules, rule
sets and their interdependencies
What are characteristics of good business rules? ::Stated in appropriate terminology to enable domain
SMEs to validate the rules. \n::Documented independently of how they will be enforced\n::Stated at the
atomic level and in declarative format\n::Separated from processes that the rule supports or constrains.
\n::Maintained in a manner that enables the organization to monitor and adapt the rules as the business
policies change.
What are the elements of Business Rules Analysis? There are 2:\n::Operative Rules\n::Structural
Rules
What are Operative Rules? Operative rules are rules that the organization chooses to enforce as a
matter of policy
Operative Rules oblige people to do what? To take certain actions, prevent people from taking
actions, or prescribe the conditions under which an action may be taken
True or False: it must be possible for people to violate an operative rule, even if there are no
circumstances under which the organization would approve of them doing so? TRUE
Structural rules are intended to do what? Help determine when something is or is not true, or
when things fall into a specific category.
Because they structure the knowledge of the organization, rather than the behavior of persons,
structural rules cannot be what? Violated
Structural Rules also describe what? How information may be inferred or calculated based on other
data available to the business
Clearly defining and structuring rules allows organizations to do what? Make changes to policy without
altering processes.
True or False: The impact of changes to business rules can be assessed more easily when they are
documented as part of the processes they detail or the means used to enforce the rules. FALSE
The following is an example of an Operational or Structural rule?\nAn order must have one and only
one associated payment method Structural
The following is an example of an operative or structural rule?\nAn order must not be placed when the
billing address provided by the customer does not match the address on file with the credit card
provider Operative
What is a weakness of large amounts of business rules? Business rules can contradict one another or
produce unanticipated results when combined
What is the purpose of the Data Dictionary and Glossary technique? A data dictionary or glossary
defines key terms and data relevant to a business domain
Data dictionaries or glossaries are used to formally identify and define what? All terminology used by
the organization or organizational unit
What are the elements of the technique? Data Dictionary and Glossary
Why is a glossary created? To ensure that all stakeholders understood what is meant when certain
words are used
What does a glossary consist of? A glossary consists of a term relevant to the domain and a
unique definition for each, as well as crossreferencing aliases
Data dictionaries include what? ::standard definitions of data elements and their meanings\n::allowable
values. \n::definitions of each primitive data element and indications of how those elements combine
into composite data elements
What is a primitive data element? The basic unit of data that includes information about an
element: \n::Name\n::Alias\n::Values/Meanings\n::Description
What is a composite data element? Composite data is assembled from primitive data elements
What are some examples of composite structures? ::Sequences\n::Repetitions\n::Optional
Elements
What do sequences do with regard to data? Show primitive data in a specific order
What do repetitions do? Show primitive data elements that occur more than once in a composite
structure
What are glossaries and data dictionaries useful for? A data dictionary or glossary is useful for
ensuring that all stakeholders are in agreement on the format and content of relevant information
What is the purpose of the Data Flow Diagrams technique? To show how information is input,
processed, stored, and output from a system.
The Data Flow Diagram (DFD) provides a visual representation of what? How information is moved
through a system
What do data flow diagrams show? ::External Entities that provide data to, or receive data from, a
system\n::The Processes of the system that transform data\n::The Data Stores in which data is collected
for some period of time\n::The Data Flows by which data moves between External Entities, Processes
and Data Stores
What are the elements of data flow diagrams? There are 4:\n::External Entities\n::Data Store\n::Data
Process\n::Data Flow
What is an external entity? An external entity is a source or a destination of data. It is represented
as a labeled rectangle.
What is a data store? A data store represents a location where data is not moving or transforming,
but is being stored passively for future use
What is a data process? A data process is a process that transforms the data in some way, either
combining the data, reordering the data, converting the data, filtering the data or other such activities.
What is a data flow? A data flow identifies where data is being moved between a data process and an
external entity, a data store or another data process
What are the strengths of data flow diagrams? ::May be used as a discovery technique for processes
and data, or as a technique for verification of a Functional Decomposition or Data Model that have
already been completed.\n::Most users find these diagrams quite easy to understand\n::Generally
considered a useful analysis deliverable to developers in a structured programming environment.
What are the weaknesses of data flow diagrams? They cannot easily show who is responsible for
performing the work. They cannot show alternative paths through the same process.
What is the purpose of the Data Modeling technique? The purpose of a data model is to describe the
concepts relevant to a domain, the relationships between those concepts, and information associated
with them.
Data models visually present what information? ::types of people\n::places\n::things \n::concepts that
are important to the business, attributes associated with them\n::significant business relationships
among all of the above
What two techniques often support the Data Model technique? ::Data Dictionaries and
Glossaries\n::Business Rules Analysis
What are the two most common data models? Entityrelationship diagram (ERD) and the class diagram
When working with relational databases, what is the preferred data model type? Entity
relationship diagram (ERD)
Class Diagrams are typically used when performing what? Objectoriented design and
development
What are the elements of the Data Model technique? There are
4:\n::Concept\n::Attributes\n::Relationship\n::Metadata
What is the definition of a concept? Something of significance to the domain being described, about
which the organization needs data. Concepts are referred to as entities in ERDs and as classes in class
diagrams
What is an attribute? A particular piece of information associated with a concept
What are relationships with regard to data modeling? Relationships are significant business
associations between concepts and define how information is used in the operation of the business, and
indicate the important linkages that need to be managed and maintained in the solution
What is the definition of metadata? Data about data that describes the context, use, and validity of
business information and is generally used to determine when and why information stored in a system
was changed
What are the advantages of data modeling? ::flexibility of different levels of description\n::
consistent modeling approach that supports the transition through planning, analysis, design and
implementation\n::supported by rigorous rules for correctness and completeness which encourages
accuracy
What are the disadvantages of data modeling? ::can be complex\n::deal with concepts that may be
unfamiliar to people without a background in data modeling
What is the purpose of the Decision Analysis technique? To support decisionmaking when dealing with
complex, difficult, or uncertain situations.
Decision analysis examines and models what? The possible consequences of different decisions in
order to in make an optimal decision under conditions of uncertainty
For effective decision analysis, the business analyst must understand what? ::The values, goals and
objectives that are relevant to the decision problem\n::The nature of the decision that must be
made\n::The areas of uncertainty that affect the decision and the consequences of each possible
decision
What are the elements of the Decision Analysis technique? There are
3:\n::Outcomes\n::Uncertainty\n::Tradeoffs
What are the two types of outcomes? ::Financial\n::NonFinancial
What are the examples of financial outcomes of Decision Analysis? ::Discounted Cash Flow: future
value on a specific data\n::Net Present Value: future view of costs and benefits converted to todays
value\n::Internal Rate of Return: the interest rate (or discount) when the net present value is equal to
zero\n::Average Rate of Return: estimate of rate of return on an investment\n::Pay Back Period: the
amount of time it takes for an investment to pay for itself\n::CostBenefit Analysis: quantification of
costs and benefits for a proposed new solution::
When does uncertainty becomes relative to a decision problem? When it is impossible to know
which outcome will occur.
What is a common way to handle uncertainty? To calculate the expected value of the outcomes. This
involves estimating the percentage chance of each outcome occurring and them multiplying the numeric
value associated with that outcome by that percentage
What is a method to assess preferred outcome when multiple sources of uncertainty exist?
Decision tree
When do tradeoffs become relevant to a problem decision? Whenever a decision problem involves
multiple, possibly conflicting, objectives
What are two common methods of making tradeoff decisions? ::Elimination of dominated
alternatives\n:: Ranking objectives on a similar scale
What are some of the common functional areas in an organization? ::Human
Resources\n::Finance\n::Information Technology\n::Supply Chain Mgmt
What is the purpose of Organization Knowledge? Business analysis is significantly assisted by an
understanding of the organization for which it is being performed.
Solution Assessment activities may be performed to assess and validate what? ::business
processes\n::organizational structures\n::outsourcing agreements\n::software applications
If a defect cannot be resolved in a timeframe that is acceptable from a business and stakeholders cannot
accept the defect, what must the analyst do? The business analyst may investigate options for
mitigating the effects
What are the types of Software Applications? There are 2:\n::General Purpose\n::Specialized
The business analyst must do what in benchmark studies? ::Identify the area to be
studied\n::Identify organizations that are leaders in the sector\n::Conduct a survey of selected
organizations to understand their practices\n::Arrange for visits to bestinclass
organizations\n::Develop a project proposal to implement the best practices
What is a dominated alternative? A dominated alternative is any option that is clearly inferior to
some other option. If an option is equal to or worse than some other option when rated against the
objectives, the other option can be said to dominate it
What method is commonly used to convert rankings to a similar scale? Proportional scoring
What is Proportional scoring? Options are assigned values between 1 and 100 and then weighted for
relevance. Score are assigned to options and a decision tree is used
What are the advantages of the Decision Analysis technique? :: provides an effective way to
determine the expected value of an alternative scenario\n:: uses consistent financial justification
techniques with quantitative measures\n:: may force stakeholders to honestly assess the importance
placed on options
What are the disadvantages of the Decision Analysis technique? ::requires specialized knowledge and
skills, including mathematical knowledge, an understanding of probability, and similar
concepts\n::results may be treated as more certain than they actually are\n:: decisionmakers may be
reluctant to revisit decisions
What is the purpose of the Document Analysis technique? Document analysis is a means to elicit
requirements by studying available documentation on existing and comparable solutions and identifying
relevant information.
Sources of documentation must be what to enhance requirements coverage? up to date.
Document analysis is used if the objective is to gather details of what items that need to be included in a
new solution or need to be updated for the current solution ::existing solutions\n::including
business rules\n::entities\n::attributes
What are the elements of the Document Analysis technique? There are
3:\n::Preparation\n::Document Review\n::Wrapup
What is involved with the wrapup of the Document Analysis technique? ::Review and confirm
the selected details with subject matter experts\n::Organize information into requirements
format\n::Obtain answers to followup questions.
What are the advantages of the Document Analysis technique? ::Not starting from a blank
page\n::Leveraging existing materials to discover and/or confirm requirements\n::A means to cross
check requirements from other elicitation techniques such as interviews, job shadowing, surveys or
focus groups
What is the purpose of the Estimation technique? Estimating techniques forecast the cost and
effort involved in pursuing a course of action.
Estimation techniques are used to develop a better understanding of what? The possible range of
costs and effort associated with any initiative
True or False: Estimation eliminates all uncertainty False. The purpose of estimation is to get a
reasonable assessment of likely costs or effort required.
True or False: Estimate should be conducted at the start of the project and the results should be used
throughout the project False. Estimates should be revisited as more information becomes available.
Many estimation techniques rely on historic performance records from the organization to calibrate
them against actual performance
What are the elements of the Estimation technique? There are 8:\n::Analogous
Estimation\n::Parametric Estimation\n::Bottomup Estimation\n::Rolling Wave Estimation\n::Three
point Estimation\n::Historic Analysis\n::Expert Judgment\n::Delphi Estimation
What is Analogous Estimation and when is it used? It is used when little is known. Analogous
estimating is often used to develop a rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimate, and is also known as
topdown estimating
What is Parametric Estimation and when is it used? Parametric Estimation uses parameters,
multiplied by the number of hours. For parametric estimating to be useable, enough history has to be
available to be used as a basis of comparison
What must the analyst do for parametric estimation to be useful? Determine which parameters
can be used and how many there will be
What are some common examples of parametric estimation? ::COCOMOII\n::Function Points\n::Use
Case Points\n::Story Points
To use bottomup estimation, the business analyst must have done what? Collected the
deliverables, activities, tasks, and estimates from all the involved stakeholders and rolls them up to get a
total for all the activities and tasks
How does rolling wave estimation work? Estimate the details for activities in the current iteration
or increment and provide an analogous estimate for the entire scope of work. As the end of the iteration
approaches, estimates for the next iteration can be made and the initial estimate for all activities is
refined
If a Subject Matter Expert is no longer with an organization to provide background on solutions, what is
a common method used to learn the material? Document Analysis
Threepoint estimation functions how? It uses three scenarios:\n::The most optimistic estimate, or
bestcase scenario\n::The most pessimistic estimate, or worstcase scenario\n::The most likely
estimate.
Which type of analysis is similar to analogous estimation, but is used not only for the topdown
estimate, but for the detailed tasks as well. Historic analysis, which uses a history of project records
as a basis for estimating.
Expert Judgment estimation relies on what? The expertise of those who have performed the work in
the past.
Delphi Estimation combines what two methods? Expert judgment and history
How does Delphi Estimation work? All variations of Delphi include individual estimates, sharing the
estimates with experts, and having several rounds until consensus is reached. An average of the three
estimates is used. Sometimes the estimates are weighted.
What are the advantages of the estimation technique? Can help stakeholders make better decisions
What are the disadvantages of the estimation technique? ::Stakeholders frequently treat
estimates as commitments, and expect that once an estimate is given the solution team will meet the
time and cost estimate\n:: Estimates are often consciously or unconsciously altered to match the desires
of influential stakeholders
What is the purpose of Focus Groups? A focus group is a means to elicit ideas and attitudes about a
specific product, service or opportunity in an interactive group environment. The participants share their
impressions, preferences and needs, guided by a moderator.
A focus group is composed of what type of participants? Prequalified individuals whose objective is to
discuss and comment on a topic
Focus Groups are an elicitation technique considered to be a form of what? Qualitative Research.
Session results are analyzed and reported as themes and perspectives, rather than numerical findings
What are the elements of the Focus Group technique? ::Preparation\n::Run the Focus Group
Session\n::Produce Report
Preparation for focus groups involves four basic steps. What are they? ::Recruit Participants\n::Assign
Moderator and Recorder\n::Create Discussion Guide\n::Reserve Site and Services
There are two basic types of focus groups. What are they? Homogenous and Heterogeneous
When a moderator guides a focus group, what typically occurs? The Moderator follows a preplanned
script of specific issues to ensure objectives are met.
What are the advantages of focus groups? ::Ability to elicit data from a group of people in a single
session saves time and cost as compared to conducting individual interviews with the same number of
people.\n::Effective for learning peoples attitudes, experiences and desires\n::Active discussion and the
ability to ask others questions creates an environment where participants can consider their personal
view in relation to other perspectives.
What are the disadvantages of focus groups? :: participants may be concerned about issues of
trust\n:: unwilling to discuss sensitive or personal topics\n:: Data collected (what people say) may not be
consistent with how people actually behave\n:: responses may not represent the complete set of
requirements\n:: skilled moderator is needed\n:: difficult to schedule\n:: not an effective way to
evaluate usability.
What is the purpose of the Functional Decomposition technique? To decompose processes,
functional areas, or deliverables into their component parts and allow each part to be analyzed
independently.
Functional decomposition involves what? Breaking down a large problem into smaller functions or
deliverables.
The primary goal of functional decomposition is to ensure that the problem is what? Separated into
subproblems that are as independent as possible, so that work can be assigned to different groups
What are the elements of the Functional Decomposition technique? The breakdown of highlevel
components into clearly defined subcomponents
What are the advantages of the Functional Decomposition technique? ::Creates a conceptual model of
the work that needs to be completed to deliver the new business solution\n::Provides all stakeholders
with a consistent view of the scope of the effort\n::Assists estimating in that estimates can be made for
smaller, and therefore more readily understandable, subsets of the whole.
What are the disadvantages of the Functional Decomposition technique? ::There is no way to be
certain that all components have been captured.\n::Decomposing a problem without fully
understanding the relationship between pieces of the problem may create an inappropriate structure
that impedes analysis.
What is the purpose of the Interface Analysis technique? To identify interfaces between solutions
and/or solution components and define requirements that describe how they will interact.
What are some common interface types? ::User\n::Those to and from external applications\n::
Those to and from external hardware devices
Interface analysis helps to clarify what? The boundaries of the interfacing applications. It distinguishes
which application provides specific functionality along with the input and output data needs
A basis for successful interoperability is established b y doing what? Clearly and carefully separating
the requirements for each application while defining the shared interface requirements
What are the elements used in the Interface Analysis technique? There are 3:\n::Prepare for
Interface Identification\n::Conduct Interface Identification\n::Define Interfaces
What type of diagram provides useful information in determining potential interfaces to and from
external parties? Context Diagram
An interface for each what? Each stakeholder or system that interacts with the system in question
What are the three things that should be identified for each stakeholder or system interaction? ::
purpose of the interface\n:: type of interface\n:: highlevel details about the interface
Prototyping is typically used to model what type of interface? Usertosystem
Requirements for an interface are primarily focused on describing what? ::inputs and outputs
from that interface\n::any validation rules that govern those inputs and outputs\n::events that might
trigger interactions.
What are the advantages of the Interface Analysis technique? ::Positive impact on delivery
date.enables more accurate project planning and potential savings in time and cost\n::Clarity on
collaboration with other systems or projects\n:: prevention of difficulties in integrating multiple
components.
What are the disadvantages of the Interface Analysis technique? Does not provide insight into other
aspects of the solution since the analysis does not assess the internal components
What is the purpose of the Interview technique? An interview is a systematic approach designed
to elicit information from a person or group of people in an informal or formal setting by talking to an
interviewee, asking relevant questions and documenting the responses.
The answers obtained in an interview are used for what purpose? Creation of requirements
What are the two types of interviews? ::Structured (predefined set of questions )\n:: Unstructured
(discuss topics of interest in an openended way)
What are the elements used in the Interview technique? There are 3:\n::Prepare for the
Interview/Design Interview\n::Conduct Interview\n::Post Interview Followup
Why types of factors are considered when preparing for an interview? ::Who holds the most authentic
and the most current information on the subject of interest?\n::What is their stake in the
initiative\n::What is the relative importance of information held by one person relative to that held by
another person?
What are closedended questions? Questions that are used to elicit a single response such as: yes,
no, or a specific number. Example: How many hours does it take for the claim process to be completed?
What are openended questions? Questions that are used to elicit a dialog or series of steps and
cannot be answered in a yes or no fashion but need explaining. Example: What does a claim processor
do on receipt of a claim form?
Designing an interview considers what types of factors? Question type\n::Location of
Interviewee\n::Question Organization\n::Interview Time and Place
What are the advantages of the Interview technique? ::Encourages participation and establishes
rapport \n::Simple, direct technique \n::Allows the interviewer and participant to have full discussions
\n::Enables observations of nonverbal behavior\n::The interviewer can ask followup and probing
questions \n::Maintains focus through the use of clear objectives \n::Allows interviewees to express
opinions in private
What are the disadvantages of the Interview technique? ::Not an ideal means of reaching consensus
\n::Requires considerable commitment \n::Training is required to conduct \n::Depth of followon
questions may be dependent on the interviewers knowledge of the business domain.\n::Transcription /
analysis is complex and expensive\n::Resulting documentation may be subject to interpretation.\n::Risk
of unintentionally leading the interviewee.
What is the purpose of the Lessons Learned technique? The purpose of the lessons learned process is to
compile and document successes, opportunities for improvement, failures, and recommendations for
improving the performance of future projects or project phases.
What types of items are reviewed in a lessons learned session? ::BA analysis and
deliverables\n::Process\n::Final Deliverable\n::issues/Concerns\n::Performance\n::Root
Cause\n::Variances
What are the advantages of the Lessons Learned technique? ::Helps to build morale\n::Identifies
opportunities for improvement
What are the disadvantages of the Lessons Learned technique? ::Must avoid blaming\n::Possible
reluctance to discussion\n::Lack of followup leads to neglect
What is the purpose of the Metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) technique? The purpose of
metrics and key performance indicators are to measure the performance of solutions, solution
components, and other matters of interest to stakeholders.
What is the definition of a metric? A metric is a quantifiable level of an indicator that an
organization uses to measure progress
What does an indicator, that which is measured by a metric, do? An indicator identifies a specific
numerical measurement that represents the degree of progress toward achieving a goal, objective,
output, activity or further input.
What specifically does a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) do? A Key Performance Indicator is one that
measures progress towards a strategic goal or objective.
What is involved with reporting with regard to metrics? Reporting is the process of informing
stakeholders of metrics of indicators in specified formats at specified intervals
Metrics and reporting are key components of what? monitoring and evaluation
What is the definition of monitoring in the BABOK 2.0? A continuous process of collecting data to
determine how well a solution has been implemented compared to expected results
What is the definition of evaluation in the BABOK 2.0? The systematic and objective assessment of a
solution to determine its status and efficacy in meeting objectives over time, and to identify ways to
improve the solution to better meet objectives
What are the elements of the Metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) technique? There are
4:\n::Indicators\n::Metrics\n::Structure\n::Reporting
A good indicator has five characteristics. What are they? ::Clear: precise and unambiguous\n::Relevant:
appropriate to the factor\n::Economical: available at reasonable cost\n::Adequate: provides a sufficient
basis to assess performance\n::Quantifiable: can be independently validated
What are the factors to consider when creating indicators? ::source\n::method of
collection\n::collector and cost\n::frequency and difficulty of collection
What is the key driver of a monitoring, evaluation and reporting a systems cost with regard to the
Metric and KPI technique? The method of data collection
When setting a metric, what are some considerations? ::baseline starting point\n::resources that can
be devoted to improving the factors covered by the indicator\n::political concerns
What must a target metric do? Reach an objective within a specific time period
Establishing a monitoring and evaluation system requires what? ::data collection procedure\n::data
analysis procedure\n::reporting procedure\n::collection of baseline data
The data collection procedure for metrics describes what factors? ::units of analysis\n::sampling
procedures\n::data collection instruments to use\n::collection frequency\n::responsibility for collection.
The analysis method of metrics specifies what? ::procedures for conducting the analysis \n::the data
consumer
The procedures for metrics reporting describe what? ::report
templates\n::recipients\n::frequency\n::means of communication
What is baseline data? ::data provided immediately before or at the beginning of a period to
measure\n::data thats used to learn about recent performance and to measure progress from that
point forward\n::data that needs to be collected for each indicator, analyzed and reported.
What are the three key factors in assessing the quality of indicators and their metrics?
::reliability\n::validity \n::timeliness
The reliability factor of metrics is described as what? The extent to which the data collection
approach is stable and consistent across time and space
The validity factor of metrics is described as what? The extent to which data clearly and directly
measure the performance the organization intends to measure
The Timeliness factor of metrics is describes as what? The fit of the frequency and latency of data to
managements need for it
What does metric reporting do? Compares the baseline, current metrics and target metrics to each
other, with calculations of the differences presented in both absolute and relative terms
What are the advantages of the Metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) technique? ::allows
stakeholders to understand the extent to which a solution meets an objective\n::defines how effective
the inputs and activities of developing the solution (output) were
What are the disadvantages of the Metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) technique?
::Gathering excessive amounts of data beyond what is needed\n::May fail due to collecting too
much data and not generating useful reports that will allow timely responsive action\n:: When metrics
are used to assess performance, the individuals being measured are likely to act to increase their
performance on those metrics
What is the purpose of the NonFunctional Requirements Analysis technique? The purpose of non
functional requirements is to describe the required qualities of a system, such as its usability and
performance characteristics
Nonfunctional requirements document the qualities of a system that are important to who? :: the
user community, such as usability, learnability, reliability\n:: the development community, such as
scalability, maintainability, reusability
What are the elements used in the NonFunctional Requirements Analysis technique? There are
3:\n::Category\n::Measurement\n::Documentation
What is the nonfunctional requirement schema used in the BABOK 2.0? ISO 9126
What are the categories in the ISO 9126 schema? ::Reliability\n::Performance
Efficiency\n::Operability\n::Security\n::Compatibility\n::Maintainability\n::Transferability
In order to test a nonfunctional requirement, what must be included in its description? How to
measure its success
What are the advantages of the NonFunctional Requirements Analysis technique? Success in
meeting nonfunctional requirements will have a strong influence on whether or not a system is
accepted by its users
What are the disadvantages of the NonFunctional Requirements Analysis technique? ::Non
functional requirements are often more difficult to define than functional requirements.\n::Overly
stringent nonfunctional requirements may significantly impact the cost of developing a software
application.
What is the purpose of the Observation technique? Observation is a means of eliciting
requirements by conducting an assessment of the stakeholders work environment
What are the two approaches of observation? Passive/invisible and Active/visible
What are the elements used in the Observation technique? ::Prepare for
Observation\n::Observe\n::Post Observation Wrapup
During the actual observation, what does the observer do? ::Reassures the user that their work is
not being questioned\n:: Informs the user that the observer is present only to study their processes\n::
Explains to the user that they may stop the observation process at any time if they believe that it is
interfering with their work\n:: Suggests to the user that they may think aloud while they are working
as a way to share their intentions, challenges, and concerns\n::takes detailed notes and asks questions
What are the advantages of the Observation technique? ::Provides realistic and practical insight into the
business\n::Elicits details of informal communication and ways people actually work around the system
that
What are the disadvantages of the Observation technique? ::Only possible for existing processes\n::
timeconsuming\n:: May be disruptive\n:: May not well work if the current process is not easily
observable.
What is the purpose of the Organizational Modeling technique? Organization Modeling is used to
describe the roles, responsibilities and reporting structures that exist within an organization and to align
those structures with the organizations goals
An organizational model defines what? How an organization or organizational unit is structured
What do organizational units do? Organizational units bring together a group of people to fulfill a
common purpose or goal
What does the organizational model describe about organizational structure? ::the scope of the
organizational unit\n::the formal relationships between the people who are members of that unit\n::the
roles those people fill\n::the interfaces between that unit and other units or stakeholders
What are the elements of the Organizational Modeling technique? There are 4:\n::Organizational
Purpose and Structure\n::Roles\n::Interfaces\n::Org Charts
What are the three facets of Organizational Purpose and Structure? ::Functions\n::Market\n::Matrix
Functionallyoriented organizations group together staff based on what? shared skills or areas of
expertise.
Functionallyoriented organizations facilitate cost management and reduce duplication of work, but are
prone to develop what? communication and crossfunctional coordination problems (known informally
as silos).
Marketoriented structures enable the organization to be better oriented with the needs of its
customers, but are prone to develop what? inconsistencies in how work is performed and to
duplicate work in multiple divisions
A marketoriented organization may be organized around ::customer groups\n::geographical
areas\n::projects\n::processes
In a matrix modeled organization, there are separate WHAT for each functional area and for each
product, service, or customer group Managers
Work packages and communication comprise what between organizational units? Interfaces
What are the three main things that org charts display? ::Org Units\n::Relationships\n::Roles and
People
What are the advantages of the Organizational Modeling technique? Organizational models are one
of the few types of models any organization is almost certain to have defined.
What are the disadvantages of the Organizational Modeling technique? ::Organizational redesigns are
likely to be highly contentious and require significant executive support in order to be successful.
\n::Informal lines of authority and communication that are not reflected in the org chart are almost
certain to exist within the organization.
What is the purpose of the Problem Solving technique? Problem tracking provides an organized
approach to tracking, management, and resolution of defects, issues, problems, and risks throughout
business analysis activities.
For each problem, the tracking tool may include an identification of what attributes?
::problem\n::status updates\n::assigning of related actions \n::tracking expected resolution
dates\n::resolution results\n::actions\n::decisions taken\n::priority\n::impacts
Problem tracking should lead to what? ::Resolution of problems in a timely manner that eliminate or
minimize negative impacts.\n::Allocation of resources to resolve problems.\n::Identification of root
causes of problems.
What are the elements used in the Problem Tracking technique?There are 3:\n::Problem
Record\n::Problem management
If problems cannot be resolved in a reasonable period of time, what type of action is necessary?
Escalation
What types of KPIs are valuable for problem tracking? ::Number of problems by status and
priority\n::Cycle time for each problem (number of days it took from Date Identified to Resolution Date).
What are the advantages of the Problem Tracking technique? ::provides an organized method for
tracking and resolving risks, issues and defects\n::mechanism to communicate problems across the
team \n::helps to maintain focus on open problems until they are resolved.
What are the disadvantages of the Problem Tracking technique? ::If regular prioritization and
management of problems is not done, the list becomes outdated and irrelevant.\n::If key team
members are not available on a regular basis to discuss the lists of problems and to determine actions to
be taken, then progress to resolve them may become very slow to nonexistent.\n::If there is a strict
deadline to deliver the solution, then problem management may become a lower priority. Often, root
cause analysis of the problems can take more time and resources than are available.
What is the purpose of the Process Modeling technique? To understand how work that involves
multiple roles and departments is performed within an organization
A process describes what? How multiple people or groups collaborate over a period of time to
perform work
How is a process initiated? A process is initiated by an event in the business domain
What is an event? Events may be actions taken by a person, rules which cause action to be taken,
or simply the passage of a period of time
Is a process model always a model of automation? No. It may be a combination of manual and
automation or completely manual.
When is a process considered complete? The process is complete when the objective or the goal
of the process is completed.
What is a swimlane? Swimlanes are horizontal or vertical sections of a process model that show
which activities are performed by a particular role
What are the elements of the Process Modeling technique? There are 2:\n::Notation
Elements\n::Process Improvement
What are three of the common notations used in process modeling? ::Flowcharts\n::UML Activity
Diagrams\n::BPMN
What are the key elements commonly found in process models?
::Activities\n::Decisions\n::Events\n::Flow\n::Roles\n::Swimlanes and Pools\n::Terminal Points
What is an event in a process model? Events occur outside the scope of a process and may be the
result of actions taken, messages received, or the passage of time. Events may create, interrupt, or
terminate processes.
What is a pool in a process model? A pool represents an organizational boundary. It may include a
number of swimlanes. Commonly, a process will include one pool for the customer and a second pool
for the organization, although it is possible for a process to include any number of pools.
Six Sigma and Lean are examples of what? Process Improvement methodologies
What are some common changes made to process in order to improve them? ::Analysis of a process
to identify and remove activities that do not add value\n:: Reduction of the time required to complete a
process\n:: Improving interfaces or handoffs between roles and organizational units\n:: Reduction or
elimination of bottlenecks and backlogs
What are the advantages of the Process Modeling technique? :: stakeholders are comfortable with the
basic elements\n:: effective at showing how to handle a large number of scenarios\n::models will be
used by business stakeholders for training and coordination of activities.
What are the disadvantages of the Process Modeling technique? ::can become extremely
complex and unwieldy if not structured carefully\n:: problems in a process cannot always be identified
by looking at the model
What is the purpose of the Prototyping technique? Prototyping details user interface requirements
and integrates them with other requirements such as use cases, scenarios, data and business rules.
Stakeholders use prototyping to do what? Stakeholders often find prototyping to be a concrete
means of identifying, describing and validating their interface needs
What are the two types of prototyping categories? ::Functional Scope\n::Usage throughout SDLC
What is the difference between a horizontal and vertical functional prototype? A horizontal prototype
models a shallow, and possibly wide view of the systems functionality. It typically does not have any
business logic running behind the visualization. A vertical prototype models a deep, and usually narrow
slice of the entire systems functionality
What are the elements of the prototyping technique? There are 3:\n::Prepare for
Prototyping\n::Prototyping\n::Evaluation of Prototyping
True or False: A prototype is built in a singular fashion and then reviewed False. Prototyping is an
iterative process
What are the other names for Storyboarding? Dialog Map, Dialog Hierarchy, Navigation Flow
What is the difference between a screen prototype and a screen layout? Screen prototypes provide data
attributes, selection criteria and supporting business rules, while a screen layout or mockup provides a
graphical representation of the elements. At this detailed level, one would apply any organizational
standards or style guides.
What are the advantages of the Prototyping technique? :: Supports users who are more comfortable
and effective at articulating their needs by using pictures\n:: allows for early user interaction and
feedback.\n:: can be an inexpensive means to quickly uncover and confirm a variety of requirements\n::
vertical prototype can demonstrate what is feasible with existing technology, and where there may be
technology gaps\n:: evolutionary / functional prototype provides a vehicle for designers and developers
to learn about the users interface needs and to evolve system requirements
What are the disadvantages of the Prototyping technique? ::can take considerable time if the
process gets bogged down by the hows rather than whats\n:: Assumptions about the underlying
technology may need to be made\n:: may lead users to develop unrealistic expectations regarding the
delivered systems performance, completion date, reliability and usability characteristics\n:: Users may
focus on the design specifications of the solution rather than the requirements
What is the purpose of the Requirements Workshop technique? A requirements workshop is a
structured way to capture scope, discover, define, prioritize and reach closure on requirements for the
target system.
Why is the requirements workshop considered to be a very effective technique? ::promotes trust,
mutual understanding, and strong communications among the project stakeholders and project team
\n::produces deliverables that structure and guide future analysis
Why is the role of the business analyst a topic of concern in the requirements workshop? The BA
may serve as the facilitator, scribe or SME and the stakeholders may have concerns that the BA is biased
as to the outcome
What are the elements of the Requirements Workshop technique? There are 3:\n::Prepare for
Workshop\n::Conduct Workshop\n::Post Workshop Wrapup
During workshop preparation, what is the purpose of the interviews? To meet with stakeholders to
ensure that the purpose of the requirements workshop is understood and aligned with the needs of
each attendee, and to ensure that any preparation needed for the session by that attendee is
understood.
What is the role of the facilitator in the requirements workshop? ::Establish a professional and
objective tone for the meeting\n::Introduce the goals and agenda for the meeting\n::Enforce discipline,
structure and ground rules for the meeting\n::Manage the meeting and keep the team on track.\n::
Facilitate a process for decisionmaking and build consensus, but avoid participating in the content of
the discussion.\n::Ensure that all stakeholders participate and have their input heard\n::Ask the right
questions. This includes analyzing the information being provided, and following up with probing
questions, if necessary.
What is the role of the scribe in the requirements workshop? To document the requirements in the
format determined prior to the workshop and keep track of any items or issues that are deferred during
the session itself.
What are the advantages of the Requirements Workshop technique? :: can be a means to elicit
detailed requirements in a relatively short period of time\n:: provides a means for stakeholders to
collaborate, make decisions and gain a mutual understanding of requirements\n:: costs are often
lower\n:: enables the participants to work together to reach consensus.\n:: feedback is immediate
What are the disadvantages of the Requirements Workshop technique? ::Stakeholder availability may
make it difficult to schedule\n:: success of the requirements workshop is highly dependent on the
expertise of the facilitator and knowledge of the participants\n:: too many participants can slow down
the workshop process.
What is the purpose of the Risk Analysis technique? To identify and manage areas of uncertainty
that can impact an initiative, solution, or organization
A risk describes what? An uncertain event or occurrence that may have an effect on the ability of the
business analyst, project team, or organization to achieve an objective.
True of False: Risks are always negative in nature False. Risks can be positive or negative in nature
What are the elements of the Risk Analysis technique? There are 3:\n::Risk
Tolerance\n::Assessment\n::Response
What is risk tolerance? How much risk an organization can effectively deal with
What are the three categories of risk tolerance? ::Risk Aversion\n::Neutrality\n::Risk Seeking
Risk aversion seeks to do what? Reduce or avoid risk in tradeoff for reduction in potential benefits in
return for a more certain outcome
A neutral approach to risk means that the probable benefits gained from the risk response must be
what? Must equal to or outweigh the costs in order to justify action
A riskseeking organization or individual is one that do what with regard to risk? Accept relatively high
risks in order to maximize the potential benefit. Riskseekers may accept low chances of success
Assessment of risk involves what? Determining the probability that the risk will occur and the
impact if it does occur
Risk response strategies determine what? How the organization will deal with a risk
What are the strategies to respond to negative risk?
::Acceptance\n::Transfer\n::Avoidance\n::Mitigation
What are the strategies to respond to positive risk? ::Acceptance\n::Share\n::Enhance\n::Exploit
What are the advantages of the Risk Analysis technique? Enables an organization to prepare for
the likelihood that at least some things will not go as planned
What are the disadvantages of the Risk Analysis technique? It may only be possible to manage a
subset of potential risks.
What is the purpose of the Root Cause Analysis technique? The purpose of root cause analysis is to
determine the underlying source of a problem
What is root cause analysis? Root cause analysis is a structured examination of the aspects of a
situation to establish the root causes and resulting effects of the problem
What is the critical element of effective root cause analysis? A challenge to current organizational
thinking and processes
What are the elements of Root Cause Analysis? ::Fishbone Diagram\n::Five Whys
The fishbone diagram is also known as what two other names? Ishikawa or causeandeffect diagram
A fishbone diagram is used to do what? Identify and organize the possible causes of a problem
What is the five whys? A questionasking process to explore the nature and cause of a problem by
repeatedly asking questions in an attempt to get to the root cause of the problem
What are the advantages of the Root Cause Analysis technique? Root cause analysis provides a
structured method to identify the root causes of identified problems, thus ensuring a complete
understanding of the problem under review
What are the disadvantages of the Root Cause Analysis technique? Root cause analysis works best
when someone who has formal training or extensive experience facilitates a team of experts. The
primary concern revolves around the ability of the facilitator to remain objective, a critical element to
effective root cause analysis.
What is the purpose of the Scenarios and Use Case technique? Scenarios and use cases are written to
describe how an actor interacts with a solution to accomplish one or more of that actors goals, or to
respond to an event
What is the difference between a scenario and a use case? A scenario is generally understood to
describe just one way that an actor can accomplish a particular goal, while a use case describes all the
possible outcomes
Scenarios are written as what? A series of steps performed by actors or by the solution that enable an
actor to achieve a goal
A use case describes what? Several scenarios in the form of primary and alternate flows
What are the elements of the Scenarios and Use Case technique? There are
6:\n::Name\n::Actor\n::Preconditions\n::Flow of Events\n::Postconditions\n::Relationships
Regarding use cases and scenarios, what is an actor? An actor is any person, system, or event
external to the system under design that interacts with that system through a use case
The name of the actor represents what? The role tha actor plays interfacing with the system
What is the definition of a precondition? A precondition is any fact that the solution can assume
to be true when the use case begins
What is the definition of a postcondition? Any fact that must be true when the use case is
complete. The post conditions must be true for all possible flows through the use case
Relationships between actors and use cases are called what? Associations. An association line only
indicates that an actor has access (of some kind) to the functionality represented by the use case
Relationships between use cases are known as what? Stereotypes.
What are the two common types of stereotypes? Includes and extends
This type of relationship is known as what? \n.allows for the base use case to make use of functionality
present in another use case Includes
This type of relationship is known as what?\n.allows for the insertion of additional behavior into a use
case Extends
The use case that is being extended must be what? completely functional in its own right
The extending use case does not need to be what? complete without reference to the base use
case
The included use case does not need to be a complete use case in its own right when. If it is not
directly triggered by an actor
The Includes relationship is most often used when? When some shared functionality is required by
several use cases
What are the advantages of the Scenarios and Use Case technique? Good at clarifying scope and
providing a highlevel understanding of user behavioral goals, normal situations, alternatives or
exception paths through an activity or business process
What are the disadvantages of the Scenarios and Use Case technique? :: business analysts are
frequently tempted to describe most or all system behavior using use cases\n:: there is frequently a
temptation to use them to capture all requirements
What is the purpose of the Scope Modeling technique? Scope models are used to describe the scope of
analysis or the scope of a solution
Scope models serve as what? A basis for defining and delimiting the scope of business analysis and
project work
What are the elements of the Scope Modeling technique? There are 5:\n::Context
Diagram\n::Events\n::Features\n::Use Case Diagram\n::Business Process
What does a context diagram do? It uses a single data process to describe the scope and shows
the external entities and data stores that provide data to and receive data from the system
What is the difference between and external event and a temporal event? ::External events
happen in an External Entity. They are external to the boundaries of the system being studied (a
customer makes a request, a partner sends a message).\n::Temporal events are driven by time (e.g.
monthly or annual reports). The time is determined by timerelated business rules (e.g. produce this
report at the end of every day, or prepare a tax return at the end of each tax period).
What is the definition of a feature? A feature is a service that the solution provides to fulfill one or
more stakeholder needs.
What are the advantages of the Scope Modeling technique? A scope model will make it easier to
determine what should be in and out of scope for a solution, even when new requirements are
identified or requirements change.
What are the disadvantages of the Scope Modeling technique? A scope model will usually leave much
of the detailed scope still needing to be investigated and detailed
What is the purpose of the Sequence Diagram technique? Sequence diagrams are used to model
the logic of usage scenarios, by showing the information passed between objects in the system through
the execution of the scenario.
A sequence diagram shows what? ::how classes and objects interact during a scenario. \n::how
objects used in the scenario interact but not how they are related to one another\n::how user interface
components or software components interact\n:: the stimuli flowing between objects
What is a stimulus? A message and the arrival of the stimulus at the object is called an event
How are messages depicted in a sequence diagram? A message is shown as an arrow pointing from
the lifeline of the object sending the message to the lifeline of the object receiving it
What is message flow? It describes the types of messages sent between objects
What are the two types of message flow? Procedural and Asynchronous
What is the difference between Procedural and Asynchronous message flow? ::Procedural Flow
transfers to the receiving object. The sender cannot act until a return message is
received\n::Asynchronous Flow (also known as a signal) allows the object to continue with its own
processing after sending the signal. The object may send many signals simultaneously, but may only
accept one signal at a time.
Sequence diagrams are used to validate what other type of diagrams? Class Diagrams against Use Case
Diagrams
What are the disadvantages of the Sequence Diagram technique? ::must be defined for each
possible scenario\n:: requires a fully defined class model
What is the purpose of the State Diagram technique? A state diagram shows how the behavior of a
concept, entity or object changes in response to events
A state diagram specifies what? A sequence of states that an object goes through during its lifetime, and
defines which events cause a transition between those states
Current state of an object controls what? The objects allowable behavior
What are the other names of a State Diagram? State Machine Diagram, State Transition Diagram, and
Entity Life Cycle Diagram
What are the elements of the State Diagram technique? States and Transitions
A state represents what? A unique condition that an object can be in or status that it may have
What defines the meaning of the state? The meaning of state is definable within the context of the
business area being analyzed
A transition represents what? Dynamic behavior that moves an item from one state to another.
Transitions are triggered by what? ::activities completed\n::events\n::other stimuli
An event may only cause a transition when? If the object is affected by the event in its current state.
With regard to transitions, what determines if objects respond to events? Business rules
What are the advantages of the State Diagram technique? Helping Domain SMEs list and describe
the states and then draw the allowable transitions between states often uncovers missing data, control
and behavioral requirements and may be helpful to clarify confusing or even conflicting requirements
What are the disadvantages of the State Diagram technique? There may be actual states an object
goes through as part of its life cycle that do not have relevance to the domain and these should not be
modeled
What is the purpose of the Structured Walkthrough technique? Structured walkthroughs are performed
to communicate, verify and validate requirements.
What is a structured walkthrough? A structured walkthrough is a working session where invited
participants review and discuss a set of requirements
A walkthrough may result in what? Revised requirements as well as issues that require investigation
What is the difference between a structured walkthrough and an inspection? The inspection is more
formal and uses checklists and other tools
What are the elements of the Structured Walkthrough technique? There are
3:\n::Prerequisites\n::Process\n::Rules to Followed During the Review
There are five prerequisites to the structured walkthrough. What are they? ::A complete
requirements package\n::A List of appropriate reviewers\n::A meeting vehicle\n::Compile Notes and
results of Review\n::ReReview
There are three facets of the Process element of a structured walkthrough. What are they?
::Review Scope\n::Organize and Schedule review\n::Conduct the Review
What is the deliverable of the structured walkthrough session? The deliverable of a structured
walkthrough is a list of questions, comments, concerns, and suggestions that are compiled during the
working session
What are the advantages of the structured walkthrough technique? ::Promotes discussion of the
requirements among stakeholders\n::Effective at identifying possible ambiguities and areas of
misunderstanding.
What are the disadvantages of the structured walkthrough technique? Review sessions can lead to
repeated revisions if changes are not carefully managed. The length of the revision and review cycle can
result in a lengthy approval process.
What is the purpose of the Survey/Questionnaire technique? A survey is a means of eliciting
information from many people, sometimes anonymously, in a relatively short period of time
A survey can collect information about what? customers, products, work practices and attitudes
There are two types of surveys. What are they? Openended and closed
In a closed survey, what happens? The respondent is asked to select from available responses
When are closed surveys used? When the range of users responses is fairly well understood, but the
strength of each response category needs to be determined.
Why are responses to closed questions are easier to analyze than those gained from openended
questions? Because they can be tied to numerical coefficients.
What happens in openended surveys? The respondent is free to answer the questions as they wish
When are openended surveys used? When the issues are known but the range of user responses to
them is not
Openended questions may provide more detail and a wider range of responses than those gained from
closedended questions, but are more difficult to quantify and summarize why? They often include
qualitative, rather than quantitative, language.
What are the elements of the Survey/Questionnaire technique? There are
3:\n::Prepare\n::Distribute\n::Document Results
A survey requires detailed preparation to ensure what? The needed information is obtained while
minimizing the respondents time to complete it.
There are several components to survey preparation. What are they? ::Define the purpose and the
target survey group\n::Choose appropriate survey type\n::Select sample group\n::Select distribution
and collection methods\n::Project desired level of response\n::Determine if survey should be supported
with interviews\n::Write survey questions\n:: Test Survey
Initial steps of a survey are the same as for an interview keeping in mind that semistructured
interviews are similar to what other technique? openended surveys.
Initial steps of a survey are the same as for an interview (9.14), keeping in mind that structured
interviews are similar to what other technique? closedended surveys
Variation in geographic distribution, regulatory differences or lack of standardization in job function or
business process may prompt what to occur? The need to survey all members of a large group
Individual interviews, in addition to survey results, may be helpful for what? Presurvey interviews
with key individuals may provide ideas for survey questions. \n::Postsurvey interviews can target
specific survey responses or themes to elicit a greater level of detail.
Distribution of a survey should take in account what? ::Organizational policies\n::Urgency of
obtaining the results\n::Level of security required\n::Geographic distribution of the respondents
What are the advantages of the Survey/Questionnaire technique? ::When using closedended
questions, surveys can be effective for obtaining quantitative data for use in statistical analysis.
\n::When using openended questions, survey results may yield insights and opinions not easily
obtainable through other elicitation techniques\n::Does not typically require significant time from the
responders.\n:: Effective and efficient when stakeholders are not located in one location\n::May result
in large number of responses\n::Quick and relatively inexpensive to administer
What are the disadvantages of the Survey/Questionnaire technique? ::Use of openended questions
requires more analysis\n::To achieve unbiased results, specialized skills in statistical sampling methods
are needed when the decision has been made to survey a subset of potential respondents. \n::Some
questions may be left unanswered or answered incorrectly due to their ambiguous nature\n::May
require follow up questions or more survey iterations depending on the answers provided\n::Not well
suited for collecting information on actual behaviors\n::The response rates for surveys are often too low
for statistical significance. The use of incentives or enforcement means may be used to alleviate this.
What is the purpose of the SWOT Analysis technique? A SWOT analysis is a valuable tool to quickly
analyze various aspects of the current state of the business process undergoing change
SWOT is an acronym for what? Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
SWOT analysis is a framework for what? ::strategic planning\n::opportunity analysis\n::competitive
analysis\n::business and product development.
In SWOT Analysis, a strength is what? Anything that the assessed group does well
In SWOT Analysis, a weakness is what? Those things that the assessed group does poorly or not at all.
Weaknesses are also internal.
In SWOT Analysis, an opportunity is what? External factors that the assessed group may be able to
take advantage of.
In SWOT Analysis, a threat is what? External factors that can negatively affect the assessed group
What are the advantages of the SWOT Analysis technique? Helps to quickly analyze various aspects
of the current state of the organization and its environment prior to identifying potential solution
options
What are the disadvantages of the SWOT Analysis technique? Very highlevel view; more detailed
analysis is almost always needed
What is the purpose of User Stories technique? User Stories are a brief description of functionality that
users need from a solution to meet a business objective.
A user story is a what? A textual description of things that the solution needs to allow users to do
User stories are typically a sentence or two that describes what? ::who uses the story\n::the goal
they are trying to accomplish\n::any additional information that may be critical to understanding the
scope of the story
A user story includes what three things? ::Actor\n::Description\n::Benefit
A user story should have defined what? Acceptance and Evaluation criteria
What are the advantages of the User Stories technique? :: create an environment of customer
ownership of features and prioritizations in an incremental, iterative development environment\n::may
eliminate the need to provide functional requirements in some environments\n::require that the value
delivered by the story be clearly articulated
What are the disadvantages of the User Stories technique? ::may not be the best technique for
some environments with regulatory restrictions or when an organization mandates
documentation\n::may not be effective when participants are not colocated\n::does not explicitly
address how to document nonfunctional requirements.
What is the purpose of the Vendor Assessment technique? To assess the ability of a potential
vendor to meet commitments regarding a product or service.
Service levels expected of a third party can be defined in this technique using what? Nonfunctional
requirements
What are the elements of the Vendor Assessment technique? There are 6:\n::Knowledge and
Expertise\n::Licensing and Pricing Models\n::Product Reputation and Market Position\n::Terms and
Conditions\n::Vendor Experience and Reputation\n::Vendor Stability
What is a common reason for using thirdparty vendors? They can provide knowledge and
expertise not available within the organization
Why should the analyst review the terms and condition of the vendor third party? To evaluate
whether the vendors licensing terms and technology infrastructure are likely to present challenges
In addition to experience, the vendor can also be assessed for what other external factors? The
vendor can also be evaluated for conformance and compliance with external relevant standards for
quality, security, and professionalism
What are the advantages of the Vendor Assessment technique? ::reduces the risk of the organization
developing a relationship with an unsuitable vendor \n::likely to improve longterm satisfaction with the
decision.
What are the disadvantages of the Vendor Assessment technique? ::timeconsuming\n::
information may not be readily available\n:: new and innovative products may score poorly because
they do not have a significant history in the market