Understanding why BA CoPs fail is an essential part of strategic planning. If you can identify the gaps in your own organization, you will be in a much better position to put a plan in place to "Mind the Gap." This article will look at 10 common reasons why BA CoPs fail.
Business analysis is an important aspect of agile software development projects, but the agile approach is significantly different than the traditional, serial approach of yesteryear. Because the agile approach to business analysis is different the approach to requirements specification is also different, for many traditionalists this will prove to be a significant cultural shock to them at first. In this article I briefly overview how business analysis activities fit into an agile approach, question some of the dogma around documentation within the traditional community, summarize some of the evidence showing that agile approaches are more effective in practice than traditional approaches, and end with strategies for specifying requirements on an agile project.
Like any other religion, sorry architecture, SOA has its own language and meanings for the terms it uses. Unfortunately, some of these words can be very confusing, none more than the term "service". So here is a bluffer's guide to understanding and conversing in SOA-speak.
It's a sad topic, but it is reality. When a world wide pandemic, like the current swine flu hits, business suffers. Obvious economic issues come to mind, but what often slips the mind is what affects us even more. The interruption of normal business processes.
No matter what requirements gathering process you subscribe to-waterfall, unified, or another approach-your discovery will be markedly easier if you can identify the right subject matter experts from the beginning. Whether they exist inside or outside your organization, people who intimately know your project's product or service, its actors, and its building tools will help you create more inclusive requirements, identify your unknowns, and grow in your own knowledge of the industry.
Part 1 of this series examined the components a Business Analysis Community of Practice should optimally include. This article sets out the first four steps that must be taken in order to establish a successful BA CoP.
Getting your CBAP certification is a worthwhile and rewarding experience. True, it can be frustrating at times, but the IIBA has improved the process with their online application. Entering your information through the web site takes much of the drudgery out of the steps, but the requirements are still rigorous. If you plan to apply for the version 1.6 exam, plan to apply by June 1 to be certain of meeting their deadline. If there are any delays or questions in processing your application, you will have enough time to resolve them and schedule your exam before the deadline. Good luck in getting your CBAP!
IIBA, CBAP, and BABOK are registered trademarks of the International Institute of Business Analysis.
Wyeth CIO Jeffrey Keisling explains how working with the business on IT staffing helps promote IT-business alignment. He also outlines the two areas of hiring focus: business analysis and business process.
The path to building great software goes through requirements management. It’s easy to forget some times, but the world relies on great software. Software is everywhere. Whether you’re building a revenue-generating product or an internal system, your company’s overall success largely relies on your software team’s success.
It’s commonly agreed that it’s good to floss, eat plenty of fruit and have a Business Analysis Community of Practice. So why is there no common industry definition of what a BA CoP is, what it does, and how to protect it from “cost-saving” initiatives?
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