The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) has recently updated the Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) exam, introducing two new knowledge areas (KAs) — Strategy Analysis and Solution Evaluation, which were not present in the previous exam syllabus.
This update marks a significant evolution in how business analysis fundamentals are taught and assessed, reflecting the growing demand for holistic, strategy-driven analysts who understand not only what to build but also why and how to measure success.
Let’s break down what these changes mean for ECBA aspirants, how they affect exam preparation, and how mastering these areas will make you a better business analyst.
Until recently, ECBA focused primarily on requirements-centric skills — elicitation, analysis, and design definition. However, the modern business analyst is expected to think more strategically and evaluate strategy and value.
By adding Strategy Analysis and Solution Evaluation, IIBA ensures that even entry-level BAs:
This shift aligns ECBA with real-world expectations where BAs are no longer mere requirement gatherers but strategic partners in change and value realization.
Strategy Analysis helps business analysts identify why a change is needed and what change approach an organization should take to achieve its goals.
As defined in BABOK, it’s the work done to:
“Collaborate with stakeholders to identify a business need, enable the enterprise to address that need, and align the resulting strategy for the change with higher- and lower-level strategies.”
In Simple Terms
If business analysis were a journey, Strategy Analysis is about choosing the destination and the best route to reach it.
For new business analysts, understanding strategy analysis helps you:
Even if you’re starting as a Junior BA or BA intern, showing awareness of business context and change strategy will make you stand out.
Once a solution is implemented, the next question is — is it delivering the desired value? What is limiting its value? What can be done to get maximum value from the solutions deployed in the organization?
Solution Evaluation is all about assessing performance and ensuring value realization.
According to BABOK, this KA:
“Describes the tasks that business analysts perform to assess the performance and value delivered by a solution in use by the enterprise, and to recommend actions to increase that value.”
In Simple Terms
If Strategy Analysis helps you plan where to go, Solution Evaluation ensures you’ve arrived successfully, and the journey was worth it.
Mastering Solution Evaluation builds your ability to:
Even as a beginner, demonstrating you can evaluate and suggest ways to enhance business value sets you apart as a future-ready BA.
The ECBA exam now covers all six BABOK v3 knowledge areas, including the newly added Strategy Analysis and Solution Evaluation.
Preparation Tips:
Even if you’re new to business analysis, understanding Strategy Analysis and Solution Evaluation will make your work more impactful:
|
Competency |
How These KAs Help |
|
Strategic Thinking |
Enables you to link requirements to organizational goals. |
|
Analytical Skills |
Sharpens your ability to measure performance and analyze outcomes. |
|
Problem Solving |
Trains you to identify root causes and recommend improvement actions. |
|
Stakeholder Collaboration |
Helps you discuss needs, risks, and value in business terms. |
|
Continuous Improvement Mindset |
Encourages you to think beyond delivery — toward long-term value. |
Essentially, these KAs transform you from a task-doer into a value creator — a quality every hiring manager looks for in new BAs.
With this update, the ECBA exam now mirrors the complete business analysis value cycle:
Identify Needs (Strategy Analysis) → Define & Deliver Requirements (RADD) → Measure & Improve Outcomes (Solution Evaluation)
This ensures that every certified ECBA professional understands the full lifecycle of value creation, from business goals to benefits realization — not just documentation.
The inclusion of Strategy Analysis and Solution Evaluation in the ECBA exam is not just a syllabus update — it’s a reflection of how the role of a Business Analyst is evolving.
Today’s BAs need to think strategically, act analytically, and deliver measurable business value.
By mastering these two areas early in your career, you’ll position yourself as a complete business analyst — one who can analyze, advise, and add value at every stage of a project.
Ready to start your ECBA journey?
Adaptive US, the world’s go-to place for BA upskilling offers and updated ECBA training, mock tests, and study guides fully aligned with the new syllabus.
👉 Learn more about ECBA 2025 training at Adaptive US