Business Analysis For Dummies (eBook)

Ali Cox has decades of experience in business analysis, agile, project methodology development and training, and systems development. As Lead Expert in Business Analysis + Agile for Netmind, she provides training and mentoring for businesses ranging in size from a single team to Fortune 500 companies worldwide.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Business Analysis 5

Chapter 1: Business Analysis in a Nutshell 7

Chapter 2: Breaking Down Different Levels of Business Analysis 25

Chapter 3: Identifying and Working with Stakeholders 37

Part 2: The BA Toolkit: Tools, Terms, and Techniques 61

Chapter 4: Talking about Tools of the Trade 63

Chapter 5: Understanding What Requirements Truly Entail 85

Chapter 6: Hunting for the Right Information, Part 1: The Process 109

Chapter 7: Hunting for the Right Information, Part 2: The Techniques 127

Chapter 8: Uncovering and Analyzing Needs 161

Part 3: Selling the Plan and Keeping It on Track 185

Chapter 9: Making the (Business) Case 187

Chapter 10: Creating and Maintaining Scope 209

Chapter 11: Creating Your Work Plan 235

Part 4: Achieving Goals with Business Analysis 263

Chapter 12: Defining Solutions, Part 1: Taking a Closer Look at Your Requirements 265

Chapter 13: Defining Solutions, Part 2: Choosing the Right Analysis Technique 281

Chapter 14: Verifying and Validating Solutions 321

Chapter 15: Transition: Moving from Planning to Implementing 347

Part 5: The Part of Tens 361

Chapter 16: Ten Ways to Keep Your Business Analysis Skills Sharp 363

Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Prepare Yourself for a New Project 371

Chapter 18: Ten Experts Chime In 379

Index 391