Business analysis underpins any automated system development, and any meaningful business change. Business analysis means uncovering the real business problem, and then crafting the best possible solution for it.
Business analysis means firstly bringing the stakeholders to a common — and correct — understanding of the value that any new solution will bring to the organisation.
Business analysis means investigating the business problem, discovering the essence — the real problem — and then looking at the options for an appropriate solution. In short, the task of the business analyst is to uncover the real business, and communicate it in such a way that all stakeholders come to a consensus on the best way to improve that business.
Business analysis is a combination of work study, systemic thinking, innovating, communicating, persuading and several other analytical skills. This course gives you the process and the tools for effective and thorough business analysis.
Learning objectives:
By attending this two-day course you will learn:
Who should attend?
Business analysis is almost everyone’s job—every employee has some responsibility for effective business improvement. The most likely job titles you would find at this course are:
or similar titles. We also find Business Stakeholders, Users and Software Customers benefit from learning advanced business analysis techniques, and how they can contribute to the organisation’s wellbeing.
Why attend?
Our businesses thrive or flounder on the effectiveness of their business processes, both automated and manual. Businesses with good processes provide a better service and are more responsive to their customers. The converse is also true.
Business analysis is the craft of enlightened improvement to business systems and processes. Moreover, business analysis gives you ways of identifying the areas where improvement projects will yield the highest value.
This two-day course in business analysis gives you the skills and tools to discover your client’s real business, and to determine and demonstrate the best ways of improving it.
This course is a natural companion to Mastering the Requirements Process, where we teach the art of requirements writing. The models and understanding produced by Mastering Business Analysis are the optimal input, and foundation for, your requirements process.
You receive a free copy of the book Business Analysis and Leadership: Influencing Change by Penny Pullan, James Archer et al.
Volere provenance
Volere was introduced in 1995. Since then, the Volere approach to requirements has been used by thousands of projects. These range from the conventional commercial domains such as banking, insurance, and so on, to more exotic areas such as air traffic control, aviation, automotive engineering, real-time control of appliances, telephony, and many more. The techniques were originally developed by James Robertson and Suzanne Robertson. Since their introduction, they have evolved as a result of research and application. James and Suzanne Robertson have continually introduced improvements as their clients have continued to push the requirements envelope.
Today, Volere is a trademarked brand owned by the Atlantic Systems Guild. There is a network of consultants, instructors and agents around the world that are available and qualified to help you get better value for your investment in requirements.
James Archer is an associate of the Atlantic Systems Guild. His wide ranging experience, admirable instructing skills and his ability to connect theory to practical examples make him one of the select people qualified to teach the Volere technologies.
James’s contribution to Volere is significant. James is a Master of Innovation having graduated with a distinction from the Innovation, Creativity and Leadership Masters from City University in London, which has led to significant participation in the Volere curriculum.
Moreover, James is one of the most approachable and knowledgeable people when it comes to discussing your requirements, business analysis and business change needs.
IIBA member discount
Courses are delivered by Atlantic Systems Guild, an IIBA Endorsed Education Provider (EEP), and IIBA trademarks are used under license and in accordance 
with IIBA’s Corporate Identity Standards and Trademark Policy.
Members of the IIBA Dutch Chapter are eligible for 10 percent discount.
IREB
The Atlantic Systems Guild is a recognised training provider of the International Requirements Engineering Board (IREB) for both the foundation level and the advanced level syllabi.
Please note: the number of attendees is limited. Please register early!
At the top of this page you can download the PDF brochure of this workshop.
The seminars and workshops that we offer as In-house will take place right at your office. Well in advance we will discuss the room requirements, especially in the case of workshops. If your organisation has widely dispersed offices we can also decide to run the workshop in a venue of your choice that is centrally located.
The course starts at 09.30 am and ends at 5 pm. Registration commences at 08.30 am.
Business Analysis — what we are doing
We start with the topic of business analysis itself, and how the business analyst is the driving force to change the business from its current way of working to the desired future state. The desired future state is an improvement to the business — it comes about when the business problem has been solved, or the opportunity exploited, and the needed systems and processes are in place.
In this section we explore business analysis and how it fits into your development cycle. We also look at a framework for effective business analysis, and discuss the role of the business analyst in today’s organisations.
Inception – establishing the value
Inception lays the foundation of the project by determining what the desired future state is to be, and what value that will bring to the organisation. Inception identifies and analyses the customer segments and, where necessary, produces a separate value proposition for different segments.
The right result can only come if the project is solving the right problem. By defining the value proposition, how that value is to be delivered, the customer/user segments to whom it is to be delivered to, and several other factors, the Inception activity ensures that the project is worthwhile and will provide continuing value.
We also look at some conventional project models such as SWOT, ALUo, PESTLE and the BMG canvas.
Reconnaissance — finding the essence, and what’s possible
We start by looking at the current state of the work, its scope, its culture, its values, its people and the ethos of the work. By looking at these factors, the business analyst is able to ask, and answer, the crucial question, “Are we solving the right business problem?”
By getting to the essence of the problem, the business analyst can see whether there are unstated assumptions, or hidden problems that can impact the outcome of the project.
For any business problem, there are usually several possible solutions. Rather than rush headlong into the first one proposed, the savvy business analyst uses safe-to-fail probes to quickly determine the best option. This option is scoped and becomes the subject of investigation.
This is an active design activity with the business analyst guiding the appropriate stakeholders to the optimal solution.
Getting Approval — the right solution is not enough, you have to convince others
The business analyst is the person best placed to maintain the cognitive thread of requirements as they affect various parts of the organisation. Knowledge gained by one project team must be distributed so that others can benefit, and knowledge from previous projects gathered to avoid duplication of functionality and systems.
Taking part in this two-day workshop will only cost 1305 Euro when registering 30 days beforehand and 1450 Euro per person after the Early Bird period expires (excl. 21% Dutch VAT)*. This also covers documentation, lunch, tea/coffee and a free copy of the book Business Analysis and Leadership: Influencing Change by door Penny Pullan, James Archer et al. .
Members of the Dutch IIBA chapter are eligible for 10 percent discount on the registration fee.
For Credit Card payment please contact our office using our contact form or by e-mail mentioning your phone number to obtain your credit card information.
In completing your registration form you declare that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.
Extra discounts
Discounts are available for group bookings of two or more delegates representing the same organization made at the same time. Ten percent off for the second and third delegate and fifteen percent off for all delegates when registering four or more delegates (all delegates must be listed on the same invoice).
This cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts.
Payment
Full payment is due prior to the event. An invoice will be sent to you containing our full bank details including BIC and IBAN. Your payment should always include the invoice number as well as the name of your company and the delegate name.
For Credit Card payment please contact our office by e-mail or through our contact form mentioning your phone number to obtain your credit card information. Never mention your credit card details in our registration form, contact form or in e-mail messages.
Practically all of our seminars and workshops can be offered as an In-house course for your company exclusively. We can tailor with extra focus on specific topics that apply to your organization. Also available in online format or in face-to-face format with live video stream.