CCBA Certification

CCBA certification has proven results in terms of salary benefits, career growth, and opening up new opportunities in the global markets. In this blog we will discuss:

1. What is CCBA Certification?
2. CCBA Target Audience
3. Benefits of CCBA
4. CCBA Eligibility
5. CCBA Certification Cost
6. CCBA Exam Pattern
7. CCBA Exam Tips
8. Why should I invest in CCBA?
9. Steps to prepare for CCBA Certification
10. CCBA Recertification
11. How to remember 50 BABoK Techniques
12. CCBA Sample Questions
13. Adaptive Career Transformation Stories

WHAT IS CCBA CERTIFICATION?

The Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) is the 2nd level of a professional certification by IIBA for business analysis practitioners. It is highly valued in the BA industry as it emphasizes your work experience, personal development, competencies, and up-to-date knowledge of the latest industry trends and developments.

CCBA certification is appropriate for business analysts with 2-3 years of experience, who are keen to expand their skillsets and climb the BA career ladder. It adds a lot of value to a BA's profile as it is a recognition and acknowledgment of the expertise that a BA practitioner has in the business analysis domain.

CCBA TARGET AUDIENCE

• Current CCBAs
• Level 1s
• Those who have fallen into the role
• Developing BAs
• Hybrid business analysts (PMs, testers, QA, change managers, designers)
• Product owners/managers
• Non-BA consultants
• Trainers

BENEFITS OF CCBA

This is undoubtedly a great way to advance in the BA career and opens up new opportunities as CCBA's and CBAP's are in great demand across industries to clearly understand business needs, translate them into technical requirements, and facilitate the growth of firms. More importantly, getting certified is a commendable way of keeping oneself abreast with the BA world and using consistent terminologies across the domain. A CCBA certified professional would undoubtedly have a higher pay compared to other BAs.

1. The reputation of the certification awarding body is essential. Currently, IIBA is the undisputed leading body for BA certifications. Formal recognition from IIBA, which is undoubtedly the leading body for BA certifications, will give employers the confidence that the BA is capable of taking up further responsibility, has a sound understanding of how to carry out BA activities, and that (s)he can demonstrate the experience, knowledge, and competencies of a qualified BA practitioner according to guidelines laid out by IIBA.
2. It gives the business analyst a competitive edge over others as employers will prefer a certified BA over others.
3. Business Analysts Potentially higher income for being formally recognized as an experienced business analysis professional.
4. At times, the clients insist that the consultant on their project must have professional certification to ensure high-quality delivery. Here, a CCBA individual comes to the rescue.
5. A definite & swift ascent of career into senior management positions.
6. The process of achieving and maintaining certification helps ensure you are continually improving and enhancing the knowledge base.
7. Recognition of professional competence by professional peers and management.
8. Certified Professionals earn 16% more.
9. 11% increment in salary for certification holders than the overall average salary
10. The expected salary increase is in the range of 15 -20%.

CCBA ELIGIBILITY

CCBA being the 2nd level certification from IIBA, has stringent eligibility criteria. Following are the eligibility criteria of CCBA certification:

• Minimum 3750 hours of BA work experience aligned with the BABOK Guide in the last seven years.
• Minimum 900 hours in each of two of the six knowledge areas or minimum 500 hours in each of four of the six knowledge areas.
• Minimum 21 hours of Professional Development Training in the past four years.
• Two references from a career manager, client, or CBAP recipient.

CCBA CERTIFICATION COST

CCBA certification cost has the below components:

• CCBA Application Fee – $145(non-refundable)
• CCBA Exam Fee – $250 for IIBA members and $405 for non-IIBA members
• IIBA membership fee varies based on the country of residence

The IIBA membership and hence the overall CCBA certification cost vary as per the country of residence, divided into three regions.

CCBA EXAM PATTERN

As committed and passionate business analysts who wish to upskill and stay relevant, we often evaluate the return on any investment we make regarding our career.

At this point, it's worth mentioning the ROI – both tangible and intangible that one obtains upon becoming a CCBA certified professional.

BA practitioners worldwide have reported that certification not only brings the often sought-after salary increases but also provides more significant opportunities for promotions, increased efficiency, and effectiveness at work. In addition, certified professionals also experience increased confidence and fulfillment owing to enhanced BA skills.

Let's do some quick math here: 

One needs to pass individually in all the knowledge areas as given above and score the overall minimum to pass.

From our experience from the past CCBA participants and their experience, we know that it is safe to assume that the CCBA exam passing score is more than 70%. Hence, it's suggested to target 80 – 90% in the CCBA mock tests to succeed in the CCBA final exam. Again, there is no official data by IIBA to support this.

This is based on our best estimate of the information on the CCBA exam. In this blog, we describe how one can be a CCBA in a time-bound manner.

Passing Score

One needs to pass individually in all the knowledge areas as given above and have also to score the overall minimum to pass.

From our experience from the past CCBA participants and their experience, we know that it is safe to assume that the CCBA exam passing score is more than 70%. Hence, it's suggested to target 80 – 90% in the CCBA mock tests to succeed in the CCBA final exam. Again, there is no official data by IIBA to support this.

This is based on our best estimate of the information on the CCBA exam.

The reassuring feedback from one of our CCBA certified professional reconfirms this-

“Adaptive CCBA training was straight to the point! LN training aimed at understanding the Knowledge Areas in a very simple way in order to assimilate them for the better. The online help was also fantastic, you could choose between a specific quiz on KA and Flashcards, with great tests to go with it, finishing off with two full tests simulation.
I would recommend this training preparation anytime, they are fantastic!”

-Federica Andriani, Business Analyst Lead / Bank of Ireland

CCBA EXAM TIPS

Some CCBA exam and time management tips-

• Relax and read the instructions carefully
• Pay close attention to the number of questions answered and remaining and the countdown of time remaining.
• Never leave a question unanswered. Select the best answer and mark it for review and revisit it at the end.
• Make use of the highlight and strike-through features of the exam software.
• Attempt the calculation-based questions first; there is an on-screen calculator available; make use of that.
• Take a break if you feel your mind is tired and blank in the exam.
• Read the question slowly and twice if required to understand correctly. 

At the end of all this, it is essential to stay focused throughout the journey. No amount of study will be enough if you don't set a deadline and work backward.

Keep a target for yourself and work towards it; make some progress every day. Keep some time marked for prep every day and make use of the weekends more effectively.

All of us spend a significant amount of time traveling to and from work. Utilize this time to brush up your knowledge by listening to the CCBA audiobook that helps in refreshing the memory and concepts. This helps in memorizing the terms and tasks as well as input, output, etc.

Hopefully, by following these steps, you will achieve your goal of getting CCBA certified on the first attempt.

CCBA Certification Validity

3 years.

WHY SHOULD I INVEST IN CCBA?

If you are a BA looking at handling BA responsibilities proficiently and propelling your career to the next level by upskilling, you are very much on the right track as organizations today are constantly looking out for professionals who have the ability to apply effective business analysis and consistently deliver business value.

With Business Analysis proclaimed as one of the fastest-growing professions with an all-time high growth rate of 14% from 2014-2024, as per the US Bureau of labor statistics, the need to upskill and stay in demand goes up manifold. The labor stats also reveal that the average growth of other professions is just about 5%.

A recent report prepared by LinkedIn based on insights from 660+ million professionals and 20+ million jobs titled “The Skills Companies Need Most in 2020 - And How to Learn Them”, indicates that Business Analysis skill has made the most significant jump out of all the skills listed in 2020’s trending hard skills. The report also states that business analysis is one of the few hard skills every professional should have, as most roles require some level of business analysis to make decisions.

Here’s a data insight from SEEK on the job opportunities for BAs and how the job market is trending:

In fact, organizations have also realized the importance of having highly skilled and matured BAs who would help enhance their delivery capabilities and have started establishing Business Analysis Centers of Excellence (BACoE).

The ability to identify and evaluate business needs and find solutions to problems are undoubtedly certain essential skillsets for business analysts. However, when the demand for BAs is on the rise, how do you stand out in the crowd and empower yourself with the best BA jobs in the market?

 Would it be sufficient to just project whatever experience you have or would you need to do something more?

Well, the answer is…to keep yourself in demand, there's no better way than to be prepared, get skilled, certified, and project your capabilities in the professional environment.

Here are some facts to substantiate the claim:

• CCBA professionals earn an average salary of $70,000+
• Top-notch companies across the globe prefer hiring CCBA professionals
• CCBA gets your resume past HR bots for mid-level positions
• An investment of $1600 can result in ~300% ROI within a year
• CCBA professionals experience amazing career transformations

1. CCBA professionals earn an average salary of $70,000+

• By investing in becoming trained and certified CCBA professional, you not only learn the BA skillsets, industry best practices, tools, and techniques outlined in BABoK, but you also get an edge over your counterparts.
• The exhaustive learning process involved in acquiring the CCBA certification will not only provide you with the necessary edge to stand out from the crowd. Still, it would also give you knowledge that you would not have acquired through work experience alone.
• According to the 2020 IIBA Salary Survey Report, IIBA certified CCBA professionals earn salaries in the range of $70,000+

2. Top-notch companies prefer employing CCBA certified BA Professionals

Professionals with a certification in business analysis from IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis) find themselves in higher demand, are more respected, and find it easier to obtain credibility for their business analysis work.

Top-notch companies across the globe prefer hiring professionals who have industry-recognized BA certifications such as CCBA as it

• Establishes the credibility of the professional and demonstrates expertise and knowledge in practice and systems of business analysis.
• Recognizes the BA's ability to take on larger and more complex project responsibilities.
• It is an independent validation of the competencies and skills of the BA by the most reputed global body for the BA domain, IIBA.
• Highlights the hard work and commitment the individual has put into preparing and clearing a challenging exam like CCBA.
• Saves time, resources, and effort to train and upskill the BA professional.
• Creates an impression among customers, competitors, and investors that the organization gives importance to industry-standard business analysis practices and techniques.

3. CCBA gets your resume past HR bots

With several organizations employing HR bots and preferring CCBA preferred candidates for mid-level BA roles, possessing this certification will be an added advantage in the pre-screening process and will enable you to cross the hurdle of your resume getting overlooked when you look out for better opportunities.

4. An investment of ~$1600 can result in 300% ROI within a year

As committed and passionate business analysts who wish to upskill and stay relevant, we often evaluate the return on any investment we make regarding our career.

At this point, it's worth mentioning the ROI – both tangible and intangible that one obtains upon becoming a CCBA certified professional.

BA practitioners worldwide have reported that certification not only brings the often sought-after salary increases but also provides more significant opportunities for promotions, increased efficiency, and effectiveness at work. In addition, certified professionals also experience increased confidence and fulfillment owing to enhanced BA skills.

Let's do some quick math here:

With an investment of $1600 (USD) for CCBA training, IIBA membership, certification application, and exam fees, and a fraction of that to maintain it, here’s the benefit that one can accrue with a CCBA certification. The benefits are typically realized in 3 months based on insights from our past students.

A quick ROI calculation based on figures shared in the 2019 IIBA Salary Survey Report:

The salary of a Business Analyst with 1-year experience typically is in the range of $60,000. As per the 2020 IIBA Salary Survey, CCBA certified professionals, which is meant for BAs with 2-3 years of experience, earn salaries in the range of $70,000.

As per figures published in the 2020 IIBA Salary Survey,

The global average salary of entry-level BAs = $40,000 to $70,000

Global average salary of CCBAs = $70,179

 Difference = $70,179-$63,824 = $6355

Considering an investment of $1600, ROI = (6355-1600)/1600 = ~300%

In addition, CCBA also provides the following advantages:

• Ability to present ideas and start leading projects with the newly acquired knowledge and skillsets
• Makes one a more trusted leader by the management and customer
• Enhanced BA skills and hence improved confidence
• Higher productivity
• Ability to influence stakeholders better with enhanced knowledge of BA techniques and skills.
• Enhanced ability to resolve conflicts and crisis better

Would you say no to such wonderful benefits in your BA career?

Steps to become a successful CCBA

 Be complex or straightforward; every certification exam has a specific preparation path that must be followed to pass successfully. So, if you want to give the CCBA certification exam on the first attempt, you, too, need to follow the correct preparation path.

1. Ensure the eligibility for the CCBA certification exam
2. Take IIBA approved CCBA Certification Training 
3. Go through the Study Guide, BABoK and practice CCBA Model Questions
4. Fill-up application and get it approved by IIBA
5. Take the CCBA test and be a proud CCBA

 Step 1 # Ensure the eligibility for the CCBA certification exam

The eligibility criteria for the CCBA certification are-

1. Business Analysis Work Experience- Minimum of 3,750 hours in the last seven years
2. Knowledge Area Requirement- From within all of the business analysis work experience hours, a minimum of 900 hours in each of 2 of the 6 BABOK® Guide Version, 3 Knowledge Areas or a minimum of 500 hours in each of 4 of the 6 BABOK® Guide Version 3 Knowledge Areas
3. Professional Development- Minimum of 21 hours in the last four years
4. References- 2 references are required
5. Agreement with the CCBA® Code of Conduct

Step 2 # Take an IIBA Approved, Success Guaranteed Training for CCBA

  As per IIBA, to be eligible for CCBA requires one to attend faculty-led training. The training needs to be aligned to BABoK V3. It is not easy to understand the BABoK without the help of a mentor as it is 500+ pages long and not very easy to follow. Faculty-led training will make understanding BABoK easier.

It is essential to choose a suitable class or training for yourself. Don't look at the cost and PDU as the only factor to select the activity.

Look at the following:

• Institute credential
• Are they an Endorsed Education Provider (EEP) to IIBA or not?
• Trainer credentials- is the trainer IIBA certified?
• Is it a CCBA certification prep training or a business analysis skill generic training?
• Course deliverable – Is CCBA study guide, CCBA question bank, CCBA exam simulators part of the program offers?
• Do they provide Success Guarantee?
• Do they provide help in application filing?

Adaptive US is an IIBA approved EEP, and we provide you with complete, comprehensive, and Success Guaranteed training that will help you get certified in the first attempt. We provide 49 Hours of Online Live Instructor-Led Training (23 Hours Mandatory). You can also repeat your sessions to reinforce the concepts and attend tutorial sessions to get your doubts cleared by the mentors. We also have CCBA Study Guide, CCBA self-learning pack, and several other resources to help you in your quest for certification.

Adaptive's CCBA Certification exam success rate is more than 97%. This is indeed the best success rate for any training institute. Our past participants have had brilliant success after they completed their certification.

CCBA Career Transformations

Adaptive's CCBA certification training deliverables include:

• CCBA Training with Success Guarantee
• 49 Hours Online Live Instructor-Led Training (23 Hours Mandatory)

• Exhaustive 2100+ CCBA Practice Questions
• IIBA approved courseware
• BABoK V3 based CCBA Study Guide
• Access to Adaptive's learning portal, SuXeed.
• The option of revisiting what you learned during the training
• Attend live sessions once again to reinforce the concepts- (5 sessions, 3 hours each)
• Access to Adaptive Library
• CCBA Application simulator fully aligned to IIBA CCBA requirements.
• CCBA Audiobooks
• Access to faculty presentation
• CCBA Flashcards
• Over 10+ hours of CCBA Video learning
• Comprehensive support till you Succeed

Adaptive's trainers have been part of the IIBA BABoK development team and exam setting committees.

Adaptive's BA learning platform, Suxeed, comes with 1000+ certification model questions, 100+ videos on BABoK, the world's most compact BABoK study guide, audiobooks, flashcards, Exam prep tips, personalized exam preparation Plan, Exam Alerts. 

Read more

 Step 3 # Go through the Study Guide, BABoK and Practice CCBA Model Questions

 Good preparation always leads to good results. Formulating the right path to follow towards your certification goals will help you towards this. Set up a committed plan towards your target and work towards it.

First, go through the Adaptive Study Guide. It is the most compact CCBA preparation guide (99% content in 40% volume). It is complemented with study tables and mind maps on BABoK Techniques and Knowledge Areas.

Second, do a thorough reading of BABoK once and note aspects that are difficult for you. Discuss the problematic areas with your trainer/mentor.

Pay attention to knowledge areas as 80+% of questions come from knowledge areas.

Next, thoroughly practice the CCBA Model Questions from Adaptive. Adaptive provides 2100+ practice questions, and they are pretty exhaustive.

 Step 4 # Fill-up Your CCBA Application & Get It Approved by IIBA

This is an equally important step, and you need to do this carefully. Adaptive has a CCBA Application Simulator available on our learning portal SuXeed, which helps candidates and ensures that the process is smooth.

 Preparing the CCBA Application

• Begin the application at least two weeks before you plan to apply.
• It can take anywhere from 6-10 hours to complete.
• Using Adaptive CBAP application simulator ensures the application approval
• Apply within three months of when you plan to write.

Additional Information

• The application expires within one year from approval
• Three exams can be taken within a year without any waiting time in between

CCBA certification cost has the below components:

• CCBA Application Fee – $125(non-refundable)
• CCBA Exam Fee – $325 for IIBA members and $450 for non-IIBA members
• IIBA membership fee varies based on the country of residence

The IIBA membership and hence the overall CCBA certification cost varies as per the country of residence, which are divided into three regions.

Region I Countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, & more…

Region II Countries: Brazil, Greece, Singapore, Indonesia, & more…

Region III Countries: India, Argentina, Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka & more…

Applications are assessed immediately upon submission and payment of the application fee.

Once your online application shows that all requirements have been met, you will be able to submit your application. You will immediately receive an email stating that you are either approved OR approved pending audit. If you are approved, the e-mail will contain instructions on paying the exam fee so you can schedule it.

Once your exam fee is received by IIBA, you will receive an e-mail confirming payment with instructions to schedule your exam. At this point, you can proceed to schedule your exam. 

Step 5 # Take the test and be a proud CCBA

 Once you are ready to take the exam, choose a day when you are relaxed.

Set up the exam date preferably after a weekend or if not then on Sunday. Don’t go for the exam immediately after a workweek, that doesn’t let your brain relax. One needs to stay cool and have a good rest before the exam since the exam is quite exhaustive.

You can book your exam with Prometric, or if there is no test center where you live, or you need to travel a very long distance to reach the examination center, exams can now be conducted at your own home when it is convenient for you.

For remotely proctored IIBA exams, there are a set of rules & guidelines to which one needs to adhere to. To know all about these rules & guidelines, read-

Ground Rules for IIBA Online Examinations

Once you have set up the exam dates, then do at least 2 times revisions of the study guide and the question bank. Brush through your notes.

Go for the test. Do not overburden yourself. Success will be in your hands.

CCBA Recertification 

CCBA is a very valuable credential for any business analyst to progress in his/her career.

IIBA requires all CCBA certification holders to go for CCBA certification renewal after every 3 years. 

It is a lot easier to get one's CCBA certification renewed than re-writing the CCBA test.

Adaptive US will refund your entire payment if your recertification is unsuccessful for any reason.

CCBA certificate renewal requires 60 CDUs to be submitted.

IIBA has set certain criteria to fulfill these CDU requirements.

Adaptive US can help you to acquire the following CDUs:

CCBA Certification Renewal

Once the above activities are complete, then follow this process to complete the re-certification formalities:

1. Complete the CCBA CDU Reporting Form 

2. Complete the CCBA Recertification Application form, attaching your completed CDU reporting form to it

3. Pay $85 for members / $120 non-members towards re-certification - To be paid by the candidate

IIBA must receive the CCBA recipient’s re-certification application package including payment by their certification expiration date.

If recertification is declined for any reason, IIBA shall send a decline notice.

CCBA Recertification contains:

• 100+ Learning videos based on BABoK v3 – organized  as per chapter and concepts

• CCBA Study Guide based on BABok V3

• Support for 1 BA article

• 6 months access to the learning portal

• All content as per BABoK V3

How to remember 50 BABoK Techniques

BABoK v3 techniques are a lot. There are not just 10, 20, or 30 techniques but 50 techniques, to be precise and that's not a small number!

The human mind can remember 5 to 7 elements at a time and anything more than that is hard to remember.

Then, how can one remember 50 techniques?

"Is it really possible to have a BABoK Techniques Mindmap?"

Many of you may wonder.

So here's the Ultimate BABoK techniques mindmap which could save you 40 hours of your International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) exam preparation!

 I know many of my good BA friends would vehemently disagree with this output. 

Relationships between tasks and techniques are many to many. 

A task in Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABoK v3) can use many techniques.

Same way, a technique can be used for many tasks.

So how can we place a technique in a single knowledge area?

#1 Why should we group the BABoK techniques?

Since there are 50 techniques in BABoK v3, which is a very high number, any practical way to organize the same can be quite beneficial for business analysts.

 It is also quite beneficial to note that when we organize techniques into groups, we can discover common characteristics for many similar techniques.

It is indeed fairly practical to divide elicitation techniques to the group-based and individual-based elicitation techniques.

Common characteristics of all group-based elicitation techniques are that:

• It would have a facilitator, as a group activity is more effective with a facilitator
• It's difficult to schedule
• It's good to obtain consensus, and 
• Interpersonal issues and conflicts are quite common in these techniques

There would also be commonalities in the strengths and weaknesses of all group-based elicitation techniques and individual-based elicitation techniques 

Similarly, all techniques in Static and Dynamic sub-groups for Requirements analysis design definition (RADD) will have common properties.

#2 What does the BABoK V3 Techniques Mind-map try to achieve?

This BABoK V3 Techniques Mind-map tries to explain the relationship between techniques and BABoK knowledge areas. I would request all my BA friends to be open to explore this mind-map. What we attempted to do was to align techniques to knowledge areas where it contributes the most. This does not imply that the techniques do not contribute to other knowledge areas. Now, a word of caution.. 

 #3 A caution

Before we end, here's a word of caution - Remember tasks and techniques are many to many.

Learn to prepare the SMART WAY, not the HARD WAY!

You can access much more useful business analysis content on our BA learning portal, SuXeed.

BABoK Word Cloud - An essential guide to understand IIBA Exam Questions

The IIBA certification examinations, CBAP, CCBA, and ECBA, play around a lot with respect to language. As one has to take many questions within a stipulated time (one usually gets about 90 seconds) to answer each question. Many questions play around with words where a similar concept word/synonym is used. The BABoK word cloud tries to organize the key terms in BABoK to coherent groups.

Let’s look at the first group – Benefit, Revenue, Savings, and Value. These terms relate to the organization receiving value from the initiative/change. Find explanations for these terms here.

The next group is Goal, Objective, Strategy, and Vision. These are related to what and how the organization wants to achieve its goals. Find explanations for these terms here.

Scale, Transaction volume, Load, Capacity and Throughput form the next set. These terms can interchangeably be used for the scale of operations carried out by an organization. The terms are explained here.

The fourth group consists of Data, Information, Class, Entity, and Concepts. These terms relate to any information which is useful to the business domain. These can be used to determine project requirements. Definitions of these terms can be found here.

The fifth group, Method, Approach, Plan, and Organizational process assets, relate to the collective ways in which an organization plans to achieve its goals, and solve its problems. Find explanations for these terms here.

Request for information (RFI), Request for proposal (RFP), Request for quote (RFQ) and Request for tender (RFT) form the next group of the BABoK Word Cloud. These are various documents that an organization uses to gather information, solution details, and pricing data relevant during a potential procurement. The terms are further explained here.

The seventh group consists of Activity, Process, Task, and Workflow. These terms relate to various tasks or set of activities undertaken in an organization to achieve its goals. Definitions can be found here.

The next group includes To Be, Future state and Scope. These terms relate to what and how the organization desires its activities/scope of the solution in the future. The terms are defined here.

The group coming next has the terms, View, Requirement, Need, and Expectation. These are all the needs and expectations of an organization and its stakeholders. Find the definitions here.

The tenth group has the terms Risk, Uncertainty and Negative impact. These terms refer to the unknown factors in any business domain, which can pose a challenge to the organization. The terms are explained here.

Enterprise, Organization, Function, and Department form the next group. These terms relate to the entire organization or a group in the organization performing specific tasks. Find explanations for these terms here.

The next group- Functional decomposition, Bottom-up, and WBS, relate to breaking up any aspect to them manageable. Find detailed definitions here.

The 13^th group consists of Current state, As Is and Context. These terms are used in relation to the present situation and how circumstances influence the solution. The terms are explained here.

The group coming next has the terms, Quality, Verify, Validate and Right for the purpose. These terms are used to denote whether the product/process meet the requirement and have gone through the quality check. Definitions can be found here.

The next group includes the terms Capability, Feature, Function, and Scope. These terms relate to the solution’s functions, capabilities, features, scope, etc. Find explanations for these terms here.

Constraint, Limitations, and Budget form the next group. They are influencing factors which are fixed and restrictive. The terms are explained here.

The 17^th group of this Word Cloud has the terms- Sprint, Iteration and Phase. These terms relate to the duration/cycle of project/process. Explanations can be found here.

The next group- Regulation, Policy, and Rule are terms which relate to rules and directives which are followed in and by the organization. Find the definitions here.

The set of terms Solution, Design and Product form the next group. These relate to the end result of an initiative undertaken by the organization. The terms are explained here.

 The next group includes the terms User, Customer, and Actor. These are the end users of the product/process, who pay and interact with it. Find explanations for these terms here.

The 21^st group consists of the terms Map, Model, and Diagram. These refer to the various representations which are used in an organization to convey the required information. The terms are explained here.

Metrics, Indicator, KPI and Scorecard form the group with the next set of terms. These all relate to indicators/measurements for the performance. Find explanations for these terms here.

The final set of terms in the Word cloud to fall into one group are Cost, Expense, Budget, Time and Material. onal goals. The terms are explained here. These refer to the money, time, material and effort used for organization

Detailed Explanations

Group 1

Value- The worth, importance, or usefulness of something to a stakeholder in a context.

Benefit– Positive output for the organization

Revenue- A Company’s revenue which is earned from its main operations or activities minus expenses, such as financing costs, asset sales, etc.

Savings– Money/effort saved

Group 2

Goal- Long-term, on-going and qualitative statements of a condition that the organization seeks to establish and maintain. For example, we want to be the most preferred technology partner to our clients.

Objective- Descriptive, granular, specific and linked to measures to objectively assess if the objective has been achieved.

Strategy- A description of the chosen approach to applying the capabilities of an enterprise in order to reach the desired set of goals or objectives.

Vision – A position that the organization wishes to achieve in the long term.

Group 3

Scale – Magnitude of business/operation

Transaction volume – Number of transactions carried out

Load - Number of transactions carried out in a certain duration

Capacity– Number of transactions that the system can handle

Throughput- Number of transactions carried out in a certain duration

Group 4

Data – Basic element of information

Information – Useful data

Class- An entity in the object model.

 Entity- Anything of interest to the business domain from a data perspective.

Concepts - Anything of interest to the business domain from a business perspective.

Group 5

Method- A body of methods, techniques, procedures, working concepts, and rules used to solve a problem.

Approach- High-level plan to achieve something.

Plan- A detailed scheme for doing or achieving something usually comprising a set of events, dependencies, expected sequence, schedule, results or outcomes, materials and resources needed, and how stakeholders need to be involved.

Organizational process assets- Documents created by an organization for reuse

Group 6

Request for information (RFI)- A formal elicitation method intended to collect information regarding a vendor's capabilities or any other information relevant to a potential upcoming procurement.

Request for proposal (RFP)- A requirements document issued when an organization is seeking a formal proposal from vendors. An RFP typically requires that the proposals be submitted following a specific process and using sealed bids which will be evaluated against a formal evaluation methodology.

Request for quote (RFQ)- A procurement method of soliciting price and solution options from vendors.

Request for tender (RFT)- An open invitation to vendors to submit a proposal for goods or services.

Group 7

Activity – Usually as high-level task

Process- A set of activities designed to accomplish a specific objective by taking one or more defined inputs and turning them into defined outputs.

Task- A discrete piece of work that may be performed formally or informally as part of business analysis.

Workflow – Order of tasks

Group 8

To Be- The desired future state.

Future state- Desired future state and expected value delivery.

Scope- Scope models describe the scope of analysis or scope of a solution.

Group 9

View- Requirement

Requirement- A usable representation of a need.

Need- A problem or opportunity to be addressed.

Expectation– Something stakeholders expect

Group 10

Risk- In business, especially insurance, the amount of money a company stands to lose, or the threat of an action or event which will have an adverse effect on a business.

Uncertainty– Something unknown

Negative impact- Value degradation

Group 11

Enterprise- A Company or business. A business project, often one which is sometimes difficult and/or risky.

Organization- An autonomous group of people under the management of a single individual or board, that works towards common goals and objectives.

Function– Organizational unit performing a specific task

Department- Function

Group 12

Functional decomposition- Breaks down a large aspect (processes, functional areas, deliverables, scope, or problems) into smaller aspects, as independent as possible, so that work can be assigned to different groups.

 Bottom-up – Way to estimate using Functional decomposition

WBS– Decomposition of project deliverable

Group 13

Current state– Prevailing situation

As Is- The current state.

Context- The circumstances that influence, are influenced by, and provide an understanding of the change.

Group 14

Quality- The degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills needs.

Verify- Test

Validate- The process of checking that a deliverable is suitable for its intended use. See also requirements validation.

Right for the purpose– Can be used effectively

Group 15

Capability- The set of activities the enterprise performs, the knowledge it has, the products and services it provides, the functions it supports, and the methods it uses to make decisions.

Feature- A distinguishing characteristic of a solution that implements a cohesive set of requirements and which delivers value for a set of stakeholders.

Scope- Scope models describe the scope of analysis or scope of a solution.

Group 16

Constraint- An influencing factor that cannot be changed, and that places a limit or restriction on a possible solution or solution option.

Limitations– Restriction on some aspect

Budget- Money

Group 17

Sprint– A fixed duration for development

Iteration- A single instance of progressive cycles of analysis, development, testing, or execution.

Phase– Division of change period

Group 18

Regulation– A rule prescribed by authorities

Policy- A non-practicable directive that controls and influences the actions of an enterprise.

Rule– Something to be followed

Group 19

 Solution- A specific way of satisfying one or more needs in a context.

Design- A usable representation of a solution.

Product- A solution or component of a solution that is the result of an initiative.

Group 20

User– One who uses the solution

Customer– One who pays for the solution

Actor– Role that interacts with the solution

Group 21

Map– A diagram to help with movement

Model- A representation and simplification of reality developed to convey information to a specific audience to support analysis, communication, and understanding.

Diagram- A picture

Group 22

Metrics– A measurement

Indicator– Indicating some aspect

KPI- A key performance indicator (KPI) is one that measures progress towards a strategic goal or objective.

 Scorecard- A scorecard enabling a business decision.

Group 23

Cost– Money spent to achieve something

Expense – Money spent

Budget- Allocation of funds or the estimation of costs for a department, project, etc., over a specific period. The management of spending and saving money.

Time- Effort spent

Material– Material used

CCBA Sample Questions

#1. ABC Technologies’ (NASDAQ : ABCT) is a US based technology services and solutions organization. Founded in 2008; it has been delivering software development projects for its clients world-wide. It has been growing rapidly and expects the number of projects to go more than 100 in near future.

This in turn puts significant pressure on its project management office to track projects. ABCT therefore decided to automate its project management process.

ABC Tech’s technology division designed and developed an Integrated Project Management system spending 50 person-years of effort. The system was released with much fanfare. A is the business analyst for the integrated project management system. A was reviewing the roll out of the Integrated Project Management system. However; even after 6 months of release; only 20% of projects were using the system. A’s team heard several excuses from the project managers:

1. The software takes a lot of time for computation
2. Unable to fetch data from legacy systems.
3. Reports take time to generate

Which task was performed in the solution evaluation?

1. Assess solution limitations
2. Measure solution performance
3. Assess enterprise limitations
4. Recommend actions to increase solution value

Ans) Assess solution limitations

Explanation: Assessing solution limitations identifies the root causes for under-performing and ineffective solutions and solution components.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 8.3.1 - Purpose - The purpose of Assess Solution Limitations is to determine the factors internal to the solution that restrict the full realization of value.

#2. Business analyst A wants to ensure all stakeholders are supplied with accurate and timely information. The intent is to give participants time to plan for meetings; activities; and reviews; provide ample opportunities for feedback; questions; and resolution of problems; and incentivize them to keep up their participation and support of the project.

A establishes a schedule of reporting to the stakeholders and templates for sharing different types of information. She meets with designated representatives of each stakeholder group; where possible; to brief them on the methods and rules for communication within the project.

Different stakeholder groups require different types of information and sometimes different levels of complexity. Information about scheduling; events; and high-level reporting is likely to be similar across all groups but other groups require information tailored to their own needs.

What is the business analyst doing when thinking about these needs?

1. Considering the needs of her stakeholders
2. Following guidelines from the BABOK
3. Filling up time so her managers think she’s busy
4. Ensuring that everyone gets treated exactly the same

Ans) Considering the needs of her stakeholders

Explanation: This is done in terms of what different stakeholders need to know; relevant rules and regulations that affect the stakeholders; and the stakeholders’ level of engagement over time.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 4.1.3 - Stakeholder Engagement Approach: understanding stakeholders' communication and collaboration needs helps plan and prepare appropriate and effective elicitation events. BABoK V3.0 - Section 4.1.4.2 - The business analyst may also factor in the needs of the stakeholders; their availability; and their location (co-located or dispersed). Choosing the right techniques and ensuring each technique is performed correctly is extremely important to the success of the elicitation activity.

#3. A is a business analyst for the upcoming warehouse management system for A's organization. Which of the following stakeholders should A involve in reviewing and approving requirements?

1. Sponsors; project managers; QA
2. Stakeholders mentioned in the Governance approach
3. Whoever the sponsor has dictated will sign-off
4. Executive sponsor; project manager; quality assurance representative; business analyst; architect or technical lead

Ans) Stakeholders mentioned in the Governance approach

Explanation: As per BABoK; this is a crucial information for all approvals.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 3.3.8 - Governance Approach: identifies the stakeholders who will have the responsibility and authority to make decisions about business analysis work including who will be responsible for setting priorities and who will approve changes to business analysis information. It also defines the process that will be utilized to manage requirement and design changes across the initiative.

#4 ABC Technologies’ (NASDAQ : ABCT) is a US based technology services and solutions organization. Founded in 2008; it has been delivering software development projects for its clients world-wide. It has been growing rapidly and expects the number of projects to go more than 100 in near future.

This in turn puts significant pressure on its project management office to track projects. ABCT therefore decided to automate its project management process.

ABC Tech’s technology division designed and developed an Integrated Project Management system spending 50 person-years of effort. The system was released with much fanfare. A is the business analyst for the integrated project management system. Post the roll out of the Integrated Project Management system; A decided to measure the solution and found that even after 6 months of release; only 20% of projects were using the system.

Which of the following is the most important input to the Measure Solution Performance task?

1. Communications Plan
2. Business Objectives
3. Solution architecture
4. Change Strategy

Ans) Business Objectives

Explanation: Business Objectives: the measurable results that the enterprise wants to achieve. Provides a benchmark against which solution performance can be assessed.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 8.1.3 - Business Objectives: the measurable results that the enterprise wants to achieve. Provides a benchmark against which solution performance can be assessed.

#5 B; recently joined company A as a junior business analyst for a complex project involving the implementation of a web-based HR system. B considered all the key stakeholders and elicited requirements by means of a requirements workshop. The stakeholders actively engaged and collaborated with B in coming up with the requirements for the new HR system. E’s elicitation results were in various forms like spreadsheets; PowerPoint presentations and Word documents. <br/><br/> Due to the complex nature of the project and the time limitation that they were posed with; B decided to prioritize requirements and focus only those requirements which were clearly laid out and had a consensus among all the stakeholders. Before handing it over to the development team for implementation; B checked the requirements for completeness and unambiguity along with the key stakeholders. <br/><br/> Which task involves checking for completeness and unambiguity of requirements?

1. Verify Requirements
2. Specify and Model Requirements
3. Validate Requirements
4. Analyze potential value

Ans) Verify Requirements

Explanation: Verifying requirements ensures that the requirements and designs have been defined correctly.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 7.2.1 - The purpose of Verify Requirements is to ensure that requirements and designs specifications and models meet quality standards and are usable for the purpose they serve. BABoK V3.0 - Section 7.2.4.1 - Characteristics of Requirements and Designs Quality.

#6. E recently joined company A as a junior business analyst for a complex project involving the implementation of a web-based ERP system. E considered all the important stakeholders and gathered requirements from HR; Finance; Sales & Marketing and Production departments.

 E engaged with the stakeholders by means of a requirements workshop. The stakeholders actively engaged and collaborated with E in coming up with the requirements for the new ERP system. E’s elicitation results were in various forms like spreadsheets; PowerPoint presentations and Word documents.

Due to the complex nature of the project and the time limitation that they were posed with; E didn’t want to waste time and decided to hand over the elicitation results to the implementation team so that they could start working on the project. The technical lead reviewed the requirements which were not formally written to make sense of the scope of what was being requested.

Considering the time constraint and the number of requirements that were elicited; the tech lead asked E to discuss with the stakeholders and prioritize the requirements as a couple of them could not be implemented within the given timeline. In addition to this; the tech lead also suggested E to focus on the requirements which were clearly written; clearly understood and agreed-upon by all stakeholders and had a low risk of changing.

Which prioritization factor is being suggested here?

1. Risk
2. Cost
3. Penalty
4. Stability

Ans) Stability

Explanation: Stability is the likelihood that the requirement will change; either because it requires further analysis or because stakeholders have not reached a consensus about it. Here; the expectation is that the requirements should be highly stable (i.e.; low risk of changing)

 BABoK V3.0 - Section 5.3.4.1 - Basis for prioritization - Point #7- Stability: the likelihood that the requirement will change; either because it requires further analysis or because stakeholders have not reached a consensus about it. If a requirement is not stable; it may have a lower priority in order to minimize unanticipated rework and wasted effort.

#7. ABCT provides digital transformation and custom software product engineering services to help organizations envision; build; and continually evolve their digital platforms to enter new markets; capture new revenue and gain operational efficiencies. Its global team enables clients to compete and grow in today’s digital economy by providing deep expertise in experience engineering; product and platform development; and data analytics.

ABCT caters to many domains; some of which could be highly regulated. It has close to 120 active projects at any point in time.

Most customers of ABCT want rapid delivery of projects. Recently ABCT got into a contract with CRO Corp.; a large clinical research organization in US. Pharmaceutical customers prefer waterfall model due to regulatory needs.

CRO Corp. has been working with many vendors and as per their project management methodology; each project is expected to break-down scope to granular level for planning.

As per the above mentioned scenario; for the CRO project; ABCT is likely to follow

1. Adaptive approach
2. Predictive approach
3. A mix of adaptive and predictive
4. Would not follow any approach

Ans) Predictive approach

Explanation: The project is likely to follow predictive approach and not adaptive approach as it is very clear from the case study that the client CRO would like to follow a detailed planning and is under regulatory considerations.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 3.1.4.1 - Paragraph 2 - Predictive approaches focus on minimizing upfront uncertainty and ensuring that the solution is defined before implementation begins in order to maximize control and minimize risk. These approaches are often preferred in situations where requirements can effectively be defined ahead of implementation; the risk of an incorrect implementation is unacceptably high; or when engaging stakeholders presents significant challenges.

#8. Business Analyst A has scheduled a focus group to determine the current attitudes towards a new product that the company is developing. A's participants should be _______.

1. Ready to participate
2. Have a minimum of five years’ experience with the company
3. Be pre-qualified
4. Only respond to pre-planned questions

Ans) Be pre-qualified

Explanation: This is the expectation in BABoK.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.21.2 - A focus group is composed of pre-qualified participants whose objective is to discuss and comment on a topic within a context. The participants share their perspectives and attitudes about a topic and discuss them in a group setting.

#9. Business Analyst A has scheduled a focus group to determine the current attitudes towards a new product that the company is developing. A's participants should be _______.

1. Ready to participate
2. Have a minimum of five years’ experience with the company
3. Be pre-qualified
4. Only respond to pre-planned questions

Ans) Be pre-qualified

Explanation: This is the expectation in BABoK.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.21.2 - A focus group is composed of pre-qualified participants whose objective is to discuss and comment on a topic within a context. The participants share their perspectives and attitudes about a topic and discuss them in a group setting.

#10. One of the reviewers of the project has decided that the project should not be implemented due to concerns over a previous lawsuit. What role does this reviewer play in the project?

1. Executive business sponsor
2. Project manager
3. Sponsor
4. Regulator

Ans) Regulator

Explanation: Role of regulator is to make sure that standards are defined and enforced

BABoK V3.0 - Section 2.4.8 - Regulators are responsible for the definition and enforcement of standards. Standards can be imposed on the solution by regulators through legislation; corporate governance standards; audit standards; or standards defined by organizational centers of competency. Alternate roles are government; regulatory bodies; and auditor.

#11. Business Analyst A has been working on a project for 6 months. A formal walkthrough is scheduled in 2 weeks. Business Analyst A has discussed stakeholders’ intentions. What has Business Analyst A actually discovered?

1. Requirements that have been stated and confirmed
2. Requirements and stakeholder concerns that have been stated and unconfirmed
3. Stakeholder concerns that have been confirmed
4. Stakeholder concerns that have been unconfirmed

Ans) Requirements and stakeholder concerns that have been stated and unconfirmed

Explanation: Purpose of the activity

BABoK V3.0 - Section 4.2.8 - Outputs - Elicitation Results (unconfirmed): captured information in a format that is specific to the elicitation activity.

#12. Z is business analyst of a project to implement a new order processing system for a direct marketer. Z is concerned that with the holiday season approaching; the system’s performance may be inadequate. Z could not find any document which has application performance criteria mentioned. Z would like to evaluate the performance of the system; but can’t because

1. Performance metrics had not been defined
2. Stakeholder and solution requirements were incomplete and stakeholders complained of poor solution performance
3. When Z gathered the actual performance metrics; Z found that the solution performance was indeed better than anticipated
4. Neither the solution validation nor the organizational readiness assessment had been completed

Ans) Performance metrics had not been defined

Explanation: One can't determine value unless one defines performance metrics

BABoK V3.0 - Section 8.1.2 - Performance measures determine the value of a newly deployed or existing solution. The measures used depend on the solution itself; the context; and how the organization defines value. When solutions do not have built-in performance measures; the business analyst works with stakeholders to determine and collect the measures that will best reflect the performance of a solution

#13 A works as the business analyst for a project to introduce a new electronic gadget. Projects such as this have been lengthy; involved multiple stakeholders; and included thousands of requirements. When selecting a business analysis approach for the project; which of the following is A most likely to consider

1. A predictive approach because of the highly regulated environment
2. An adaptive approach because these approaches tend to be better for new products
3. The approach depends on more factors than are given
4. A combination of predictive and adaptive approaches; given the complexity of the project

Ans) The approach depends on more factors than are given

Explanation: Remember; often the factors can be more than those given in the question

BABoK V3.0 - Section 3.1.4 - Elements - Paragraph 9 - Other considerations that may affect the approach include:

• the change is complex and high risk;
• the organization is in; or interacts with; heavily regulated industries;
• contracts or agreements necessitate formality;
• stakeholders are geographically distributed;
• resources are outsourced;
• staff turnover is high and/or team members may be inexperienced;
• requirements must be formally signed off; and
• business analysis information must be maintained long-term or handed over for use on future initiatives.

 #14. Business analyst A wants to ensure all stakeholders are supplied with accurate and timely information. The intent is to give participants time to plan for meetings; activities; and reviews; provide ample opportunities for feedback; questions; and resolution of problems; and incentivize them to keep up their participation and support of the project.

A establishes a schedule of reporting to the stakeholders and templates for sharing different types of information. She meets with designated representatives of each stakeholder group; where possible; to brief them on the methods and rules for communication within the project. She emphasizes that the guidelines are not meant to limit what the participants can do but to provide structure; encourage communication and feedback; and ensure that everyone’s needs are met.

Which element is not an important element in managing stakeholder collaboration?

1. Gaining agreement on commitments
2. Monitoring stakeholder engagement
3. Collaboration with stakeholders
4. Communicating with all stakeholders in the same way

Ans) Communicating with all stakeholders in the same way

Explanation: Stakeholders should be communicated with as per their influence and interest.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 3.2.4.2 - Paragraph 2 - The business analyst may plan different collaboration approaches for internal and external stakeholders; and approaches may differ by business analysis activity. The objective is to select the approaches that work best to meet the needs of each stakeholder group and ensure their interest and involvement is maintained across the initiative.

#15. E recently joined company A as a junior business analyst for a complex project involving the implementation of a web-based ERP system. E considered all the important stakeholders and gathered requirements from HR; Finance; Sales & Marketing and Production departments.

E engaged with the stakeholders by means of a requirements workshop. The stakeholders actively engaged and collaborated with E in coming up with the requirements for the new ERP system. E’s elicitation results were in various forms like spreadsheets; PowerPoint presentations and Word documents.

Due to the complex nature of the project and the time limitation that they were posed with; E didn’t want to waste time and decided to hand over the elicitation results to the implementation team so that they could start working on the project. The technical lead reviewed the requirements which were not formally written to make sense of the scope of what was being requested.

Considering the time constraint and the number of requirements that were elicited; the tech lead asked E to discuss with the stakeholders and prioritize the requirements as a couple of them could not be implemented within the given timeline. In addition to this; the tech lead also suggested E to focus on the requirements which were clearly written; clearly understood and agreed-upon by all stakeholders and had a low risk of changing.

Which one among the following is not typically a factor that influences prioritization?

1. Risk
2. Time-sensitivity
3. Dependencies
4. Requirements gathering

Ans) Requirements gathering

Explanation: All other factors influence prioritization.<br/><br/>Typical factors that influence prioritization include:

• Benefit
• Penalty
• Cost
• Risk
• Dependencies
• Time Sensitivity
• Stability
• Regulatory or Policy Compliance

#16. Which among the following is a business capability?

1. Constraints
2. Assumptions
3. Products
4. Culture

Ans) Products

Explanation: Products are part of capabilities.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 6.1.4.3 - Capabilities and processes describe the activities an enterprise performs. They also include the knowledge the enterprise has; the products and services it provides; the functions it supports; and the methods it uses to make decisions.

#17. Which one among the following modeling techniques uses a diagram to show the individual goals of each actor or event response?

1. Use cases and Scenarios
2. Data flow diagrams
3. Scope modeling
4. Architecture modeling

Ans) Use cases and Scenarios

Explanation: Definition of the technique.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.47.2 - Use cases describe the interactions between the primary actor; the solution; and any secondary actors needed to achieve the primary actor's goal.

#18. Z is a business analyst who has been asked to develop transition requirements between existing systems to new system. Technique Z is unlikely to use is

1. Data model
2. Business rules analysis
3. Process modeling
4. Root cause analysis

Ans) Root cause analysis

Explanation: Useful to find the underlying cause of a problem. Not particularly suitable for the scenario given.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.40.1 - Root cause analysis is used to identify and evaluate the underlying causes of a problem.

#19. Business Analyst A uses hierarchical decomposition to break down the business analysis deliverables into activities and tasks. A then adds the hours needed and can give an accurate estimate of the time needed to complete the BA work. What type of estimation has A used?

1. Delphi estimation
2. Historic analysis
3. Parametric estimation
4. Bottom-up estimation

Ans) Bottom-up estimation

Explanation: Decomposition and bottom up estimation are linked.<br/><br/>BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.19.3.1 - Paragraph 2 - Point #2 - Bottom-up: using the lowest-level elements of a hierarchical breakdown to examine the work in detail and estimate the individual cost or effort; and then summing across all elements to provide an overall estimate.

#20. Business analyst A wants to ensure all stakeholders are supplied with accurate and timely information. The intent is to give participants time to plan for meetings; activities; and reviews; provide ample opportunities for feedback; questions; and resolution of problems; and incentivize them to keep up their participation and support of the project.

She meets with designated representatives of each stakeholder group; where possible; to brief them on the methods and rules for communication within the project. She emphasizes that the guidelines are not meant to limit what the participants can do but to provide structure; encourage communication and feedback; and ensure that

everyone’s needs are met. She also describes the templates she’s created to build understanding and give the departments an opportunity to suggest changes; which sets a standard for early participation in the process. The business analyst works hard to ensure that everyone she works with remains excited about the project and continues to participate as needed.

If she is successful she will accomplish what outcome?

1. Business analysis information (Communicated)
2. Stakeholder engagement
3. Elicitation activity plan
4. Elicitation results (Confirmed)

Ans) Stakeholder engagement

Explanation: Engaged stakeholder will continue to provide needed input and feedback and will remain available for interaction with the business analyst.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 4.1.3 - Input #2 - Stakeholder Engagement Approach: understanding stakeholders' communication and collaboration needs helps plan and prepare appropriate and effective elicitation events.

#21. Lead business analyst L notices that some of the business analysts have information about the project requirements; processes and stakeholders that would be helpful to the entire business analysis team. What technique would the lead business analyst use to make sure that there is shared understanding among all the business analysts?

1. Lessons learned
2. Brainstorming
3. Risk management
4. Observation

Ans) Lessons learned

Explanation: Lessons learned can help in sharing knowledge.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.27.1 - Purpose - 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.

#22. What does a desired outcome describe?

1. Business benefits that will result from meeting the business need
2. Solution to a business problem or opportunity
3. Business need
4. Costs and benefits of implementing the solution

Ans) Business benefits that will result from meeting the business need

Explanation: Definition : BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.7.3.2 - Desired Outcomes - The desired outcomes describe the state which should result if the need is fulfilled. They should include measurable outcomes that can be utilized to determine the success of the business case or the solution.

#23. Which of the following is true about assessing design options and recommending solution?

1. There can be times when none of the design options are worthwhile and the best recommendation is to do nothing
2. Business analysts always recommend options which have low cost of implementation
3. Business analysts have to come up with a recommendation regardless of the value it adds
4. Re-evaluation of the initial allocation of design elements between components is rarely done

Ans) There can be times when none of the design options are worthwhile and the best recommendation is to do nothing

Explanation: BABoK V3.0 - Section 7.6.4.4 - Business analysts recommend the option or options deemed to be the most valuable solution to address the need. It is possible that none of the design options are worthwhile and the best recommendation is to do nothing.

#24. Business Analyst A worked on a project to implement a new system. When it was first deployed; it seemed to be performing well. However; as transactions increased over a six-month period; the application slowed to a level deemed unacceptable by the end-users. Business analyst A has been asked to evaluate this performance. In order to do this; A needs to have

1. Performance metrics of the solution
2. Approval to repair any defects found
3. Approval to prevent future defects
4. An assessment of the solution performance

Ans) Performance metrics of the solution

Explanation: For evaluating any solution performance; one must have the solution performance metrics available.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 8.1.1 - The purpose of Measure Solution Performance is to define performance measures and use the data collected to evaluate the effectiveness of a solution in relation to the value it brings.

#25. Business analyst A has just finished a report that showed some problems in the business analysis work for the current project. Specifically; there were several variances from what A expected. What should A do to address the variances?

1. Update the business analysis approach for the project; to correct the problems identified.
2. Plan new or different business analysis activities; to correct the problems identified.
3. Update the business analysis communication plan; to ensure it includes reporting the variances.
4. Plan new or different requirements management processes to reduce the variances.

Ans) Plan new or different business analysis activities; to correct the problems identified.

Explanation: This is what the BA needs to do to bring back activities in track.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 3.5.8 - Outputs - Business Analysis Performance Assessment: includes a comparison of planned versus actual performance; identifying the root cause of variances from the expected performance; proposed approaches to address issues; and other findings to help understand the performance of business analysis processes.

#26. Business Analyst A is a new business analyst for a re-engineering project. A needs to choose an elicitation technique which will describe the environmental requirements of the system. A's preferred technique will be

1. NFR
2. Workshops
3. Observation
4. Survey

Ans) NFR

Explanation: Environmental conditions are part of NFR.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.30.3.1 - Categories of Non-Functional Requirements - Compatibility: degree to which the solution operates effectively with other components in its environment; such as one process with another.

#27. Business analyst A has received a sign-off on the requirements and has communicated that all further changes will now be done as part of change control. A gets an email requesting a change. A compares the new requirement to the original; documents the new requirement and puts it into change control. What is the task A has completed?

1. Identified stakeholders for change management.
2. Followed change control process.
3. Defined the change control process.
4. Defined the requirements prioritization process.

Ans) Followed change control process.

Explanation: This is what a BA needs to do.

BABoK V3.0 - Section Glossary C - change control: Controlling changes to requirements and designs so that the impact of requested changes is understood and agreed-to before the changes are made.

#28. Happy bars is a 100 year old company which manufactures and sells an assortment of candies such as lollipops; jelly beans; candy sticks etc. and refreshment products. Company has 100+ products. The company has 6 well established old stores in major markets of Chicago. The company opened 20 stores in major cities within 50 miles radius of Chicago in the last 5 years.

With increased number of stores; the company has started receiving complaints from several of the company’s stores and corporate customers with respect to product mail order system. Complaints received are receipt of spoilt products; non-delivery of ordered items; delays in delivery date and partial fulfillment of order. The Food & Drug Administration of US has also sent multiple notices to the company on the quality issues of the delivered products. This is impacting the brand image of company. 

The company has decided to implement an ERP to address the challenges faced by the company. It’s internal IT department is considering the design and implementation of the new eEnterprise system. Which technique is primarily used to measure organization in the future state?

1. Decision Modelling
2. SWOT Analysis
3. Functional Decomposition
4. Balanced Scorecard

Ans) Balanced Scorecard

Explanation: The balanced scorecard is used to manage performance in any business model; organizational structure; or business process.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.3.1 - The balanced scorecard is used to manage performance in any business model; organizational structure; or business process.

#29. Requirements can be assigned to solution components to maximize business value at which point?

1. During requirements analysis; when performing requirements validation
2. During solution assessment and validation; when performing requirements allocation
3. Early in the project lifecycle
4. Typically when a solution approach has been determined

Ans) Typically when a solution approach has been determined

Explanation: Remember.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 7.5.4.3 - Requirements may be allocated between organizational units; job functions; solution components; or releases of a solution. Requirements allocation typically begins when a solution approach has been determined; and continues until all valid requirements are allocated. Allocation typically continues through design and implementation of a solution.

#30. Even after best efforts by the solution team; certain issues are yet to be resolved. Which stakeholders should the BA need to involve when a product needs to be released with known issues?

1. Government; Tester; and Operational Support.
2. Domain SME; Customer and Sponsor.
3. Tester; Implementation SME; and Customer.
4. Tester; Regulator; and Sponsor.

Ans) Domain SME; Customer and Sponsor.

Explanation: These are the 3 key stakeholders who must be informed of any critical defects.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 2.4.2 – Customer- A customer uses or may use products or services produced by the enterprise and may have contractual or moral rights that the enterprise is obliged to meet.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 2.4.3 - Domain Subject Matter Expert- A domain subject matter expert is any individual with in-depth knowledge of a topic relevant to the business need or solution scope. This role is often filled by people who may be end users or people who have in-depth knowledge of the solution such as managers; process owners; legal staff; consultants; and others.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 2.4.9 – Sponsor- Sponsors are responsible for initiating the effort to define a business need and develop a solution that meets that need. They authorize the work to be performed; and control the budget and scope for the initiative. Alternate roles are executive and project sponsor.

#31. Business Analyst A is developing cost and time estimates for the business case. Which technique is A likely to use?

1. Organizational breakdown structure
2. Financial analysis
3. Estimation
4. Feature decomposition

Ans) Estimation

Explanation: Estimation provides rough indicators of effort and schedule.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.19.1 - Estimation is used by business analysts and other stakeholders to forecast the cost and effort involved in pursuing a course of action. BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.7.3.3 - Paragraph 2 - Point #4 - The financial analysis and value assessment includes an estimate of the costs to implement and operate the alternative; as well as a quantified financial benefit from implementing the alternative. BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.7.3.4 - The recommended solution may also include some estimates of cost and duration to implement the solution.

#32. Which one among the following possible project requirements are considered functional requirements?

1. New data that supports changes to any business process will be included in the new system
2. New data that will be added shall be accessible directly from the My SQL database
3. Data for the system changes will be retained for 3 years
4. Data for the system changes will be backed up daily and one copy stored offsite

Ans) New data that supports changes to any business process will be included in the new system

Explanation: Data belongs to functional requirements

BABoK V3.0 - Section 2.3 - Point #3 - Sub-point #1 - Functional requirements: describe the capabilities that a solution must have in terms of the behaviour and information that the solution will manage.

#33. Which among the following options is a valid consideration for presenting requirements to stakeholders

1. Executive sponsors and management want high-level requirements; so include executive summaries
2. Many business SMEs will not be available to review requirements; so there is little need to write in the language they can understand
3. There is virtually little difference in the time needed to prepare formal or informal requirements reviews The difference lies in the organizational level of the audience being presented to
4. A requirement may be presented informally in an e-mail message; a note; or verbally

Ans) A requirement may be presented informally in an e-mail message; a note; or verbally

Explanation: BABoK allows any form of requirements presentation.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 4.4.4.1 - Paragraph 3 - Point #2 - Informal Documentation: may include text; diagrams; or matrices that are used during a change but are not part of a formal organizational process.

#34. Happy bars is a 100 year old company which manufactures and sells an assortment of candies such as lollipops; jelly beans; candy sticks etc. and refreshment products. Company has 100+ products. The company has 6 well established old stores in major markets of Chicago. The company opened 20 stores in major cities in within 50 miles radius of Chicago in the last 5 years.

With increased number of stores; the company has started receiving complaints from several of the company’s stores and corporate customers with respect to product mail order system. Complaints received are receipt of spoilt products; non-delivery of ordered items; delays in delivery date and partial fulfillment of order. The Food & Drug Administration of US has also sent multiple notices to the company on the quality issues of the delivered products. This is impacting the brand image of company.

The company has decided to implement an ERP to address the challenges faced by the company. The company is considering various options-whether to buy; rent or build a solution in-house. Business Analyst C is defining the future state. What is the main purpose of future state analysis?

1. To determine whether the business has sufficient budget to satisfy all the requirements regardless of their priority.
2. To determine which type of technology is needed to close the business gap.
3. To gather sufficient information to make the best possible choices among potential options.
4. To illustrate the differences between current and future state process maps.

Ans) To gather sufficient information to make the best possible choices among potential options.

Explanation: The purpose of future state analysis is not to create a comprehensive description of the outcome at a level of detail that will directly support implementation.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 6.2.8 - Future State Description: the future state description includes boundaries of the proposed new; removed; and modified components of the enterprise and the potential value expected from the future state. The description might include the desired future capabilities; policies; resources; dependencies; infrastructure; external influences; and relationships between each element.

#35. Which one among the following elements is NOT a part of the standard nomenclature for a DFD

1. Data process
2. Data store
3. External entity
4. Join

Ans) Join

Explanation: Join is an SQL concept

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.13.3 - Elements

1. Externals (Entity; Source; Sink)
2. Data Store
3. Process
4. Data Flow

#36. Reason why a business analyst should document additional features functionalities offered by a solution is

1. The feature may be useful in future
2. To show-off knowledge
3. Because BABOK mandates the same
4. Not a desirable activity

Ans) The feature may be useful in future

Explanation: Features not needed now may be needed later

BABoK V3.0 - Section 7.5.4.2 - Paragraph 2 - Point #3 - Identify Additional Capabilities: highlight capabilities that have the potential to provide future value and can be supported by the solution. These capabilities may not necessarily be of immediate value to the organization (for example; a software application with features the organization anticipates using in the future).

#37. A is a business analyst and is working with the project manager on a project to automate a manual process. They are working together on a work breakdown structure to break down which type of scope?

1. Product scope
2. Process scope
3. Project scope
4. Organization scope

Ans) Project scope

Explanation: WBS discussed here pertains to project scope.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 6.4.7 - Stakeholder #6 - Project Manager: responsible for managing change and planning the detailed activities to complete a change. In a project; the project manager is responsible for the project scope; which covers all the work to be performed by the project team.

#38 Business Analyst is arranging one-on-one meetings with several stakeholders to understand their business needs. What type of technique is A using?

1. Requirements workshops
2. Observation
3. Interviews
4. Prototyping

Ans) Interviews

Explanation: Characteristics of interviews- BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.25.1 - An interview is a systematic approach designed to elicit business analysis information from a person or group of people by talking to the interviewee(s); asking relevant questions; and documenting the responses.

#39. Business analyst A's SMEs added two new requirements to the project after it had been signed off. Technically these did not match the overall scope of the project. However; A was convinced that the chosen solution could handle the two new requirements; so A passed them on to the development team. What should A have done?

1. Because the solution can already handle the new requirements this approach was okay
2. Get approval from the sponsor to change the scope of the project and add the new requirements if in fact they have true value and needed by the business
3. Update the business requirements document and ask for signoff again Once signoff is given the new requirements can be handed off to development
4. Put the new two requirements into a future phase for delivery

Ans) Get approval from the sponsor to change the scope of the project and add the new requirements if in fact they have true value and needed by the business

Explanation: Sponsor is accountable for scope; hence best person to decide.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 2.4.9 - Sponsors are responsible for initiating the effort to define a business need and develop a solution that meets that need. They authorize the work to be performed; and control the budget and scope for the initiative. Alternate roles are executive and project sponsor.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 7.6.7 - Stakeholder #7 - Sponsor: approves the expenditure of resources to purchase or develop a solution and approve the final recommendation. The sponsor will want to be kept informed of any changes in potential value or risk; as well as the resulting opportunity cost; as he/she may prefer another course of action.

#40. In what situation would a feasibility analysis be MOST useful?

1. Buying a COTS package
2. When a sponsor places constraints on a solution option
3. Resolving a business problem
4. Increasing market share through acquisition

Ans) Increasing market share through acquisition

Explanation: This is a complex work; so should have a feasibility phase.

The answer to this question is scenario specific. Hence; direct BABoK explanation is not available.

#41 One of Business Analyst D's colleagues has named use cases as the following. Indicate which is not an appropriate name for a use case.

1. Manage student enrolment
2. Manage travel booking
3. Ability to reserve seats
4. Reserve seats

Ans) Ability to reserve seats

Explanation: Should be starting with a verb.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.47.3.2 - Name - The use case has a unique name. The name generally includes a verb that describes the action taken by the actor and a noun that describes either what is being done or the target of the action.

#42 Business Analyst A expects significant opposition from few stakeholders. A would consult with which of the following stakeholders?

1. End user
2. Sponsor
3. Implementation SME
4. Tester

Ans) Sponsor

Explanation: Sponsor is likely to have highest influence in the project

BABoK V3.0 - Section 3.2.7 - Stakeholder #6 - Sponsor: may request that specific stakeholders be involved in the business analysis activities. BABoK V3.0 - Section 8.4.7 – Stakeholder #5 - Sponsor: authorizes and ensures funding for a solution delivery; and champions action to resolve problems identified in the organizational assessment.

#43. P is a business analyst working on describing current processes. Which of the techniques would P use for the same?

1. Future state description
2. Current state description
3. Requirements document
4. Functional specification document

Ans) Current state description

Explanation: Definition: BABoK V3.0 - Section 6.1.8 - Outputs - Current State Description: the context of the enterprise’s scope; capabilities; resources; performance; culture; dependencies; infrastructure; external influences; and significant relationships between these elements.

 #44. Business Analyst A is performing document analysis on the current project so that A does not necessarily have to start with a 'blank page.' Which one among the following BEST describes the limitation of document analysis?

1. Document analysis can provide challenges of current system
2. Document analysis can be a good starting point to understand current systems
3. Documentation is the AS IS state
4. Existing documentation could also provide requirements for a new system

Ans) Documentation is the AS IS state

Explanation: Definition: BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.18.4.2 - Limitation #3 - Primarily helpful only for evaluating the current state; via review of as-is documentation.

#45. A is a business analyst for the upcoming customer relationship management system for A's organization. Which among the following should A avoid doing when a new requirement comes up?

1. Implement all new requirements.
2. Record them.
3. Assess requirement to business case alignment
4. Assess requirement to business case alignment

Ans) Implement all new requirements.

Explanation: This is not what a BA should be doing. Requirements must be validated before being implemented.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 5.4.2 - Description - The Assess Requirements Changes task is performed as new needs or possible solutions are identified. These may or may not align to the change strategy and/or solution scope. Assessment must be performed to determine whether a proposed change will increase the value of the solution; and if so; what action should be taken.

#46. When potential problems or opportunities for improvement of business analysis work on a project are identified; which of the following roles should be consulted?

1. Business analysis manager; if one exists; otherwise the sponsor
2. Project manager
3. Sponsor
4. Regulator

Ans) Project manager

Explanation: Remember - any changes should be discussed with PM.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 3.5.7 - Stakeholder #2 - Project Manager: is accountable for the success of a project and must be kept informed of the current status of business analysis work. If potential problems or opportunities for improvement are identified; the project manager must be consulted before changes are implemented to assess whether those changes will have an impact on the project. They may also deliver reports on business analysis performance to the sponsor and other stakeholders.

#47. Which among the following statements is correct with regard to requirements model?

1. Requirements models are an abstract (usually graphical) representation of some aspect of the current or future state
2. Requirements models map complete reality through a set of graphical symbols
3. Requirements models have only simple constructs
4. Requirements model creation precedes elicitation

Ans) Requirements models are an abstract (usually graphical) representation of some aspect of the current or future state

Explanation: BABoK V3.0 - Glossary - model: A representation and simplification of reality developed to convey information to a specific audience to support analysis, communication, and understanding.

#48. Stakeholder S would like to make the application highly usable. Correct business analysis approach would be?

1. Agree with the stakeholder as usability is an important requirement
2. Tell the stakeholder that since the product is a technical product; there is no need for usability
3. Work with the stakeholder to define usability objectively
4. Hire an UX expert to help in usability aspect

Ans) Work with the stakeholder to define usability objectively

Explanation: Requirements should be measurable. Remember SMART.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.30.3.1 - Usability: ease with which a user can learn to use the solution. BABoK V3.0 - Section 6.2.4.1 - Paragraph 4 - As goals are analyzed they are converted into more descriptive; granular and specific objectives; and linked to measures that make it possible to objectively assess if the objective has been achieved.

#49. Business analyst Z had worked as a business analyst and learnt the BA approach in the previous organization. For the current organization;

1. Z should apply the old organization’s approach
2. Follow agile approach as it is quite popular
3. Not worry about BA approach as project already has an approach
4. Discover current organization’s approach

Ans) Discover current organization’s approach

Explanation: It is essential to learn current organization's approach to apply.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 3.1.2 - Paragraph 5 - The business analysis approach should:

• align to the overall goals of the change;
• coordinate the business analysis tasks with the activities and deliverables of the overall change;
• include tasks to manage any risks that could reduce the quality of business analysis deliverables or impede task efficiency; and
• leverage approaches and select techniques and tools that have historically worked well.

#50. A skilled facilitator is required in which of the following requirements elicitation tasks?

1. Prototyping and usability engineering
2. Brainstorming and survey/questionnaire
3. Focus group and requirements workshop
4. Interview and interface analysis

Ans) Focus group and requirements workshop

Explanation: Characteristics of the techniques.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.21.2 - Paragraph 1 - A trained moderator manages the preparation of the session; assists in selecting participants; and facilitates the session.

BABoK V3.0 - Section 10.50.2 - Paragraph 2 - The workshop is ideally facilitated by an experienced; neutral facilitator; however; a team member may also serve as the facilitator.