In the complex landscape of modern projects, success hinges on a clear understanding of stakeholder needs and a well-defined scope. This "Driving Value: Business Analysis for Project Success Training Course" is a comprehensive program designed to equip you with the essential skills to effectively identify, analyze, and document business requirements. By mastering the core competencies of business analysis, you will become a critical link between business objectives and project outcomes, ensuring that every project delivers meaningful value and aligns with strategic goals.

This 10-day immersive training will transform your approach to project initiation and execution. You will learn how to elicit requirements from diverse stakeholders, model business processes, and translate needs into actionable project specifications. The curriculum emphasizes practical techniques for requirements management, including validation, verification, and change control. You will also explore how to use business analysis tools and techniques to prevent common project pitfalls and ensure that the final solution meets the true needs of the business. By the end of this course, you will be equipped to drive project success by building a solid foundation of clear and validated requirements.

Duration: 10 days

Target Audience:

• Business Analysts
• Project Managers
• System Analysts
• Product Owners
• IT Professionals
• Consultants
• Business Stakeholders
• Quality Assurance Professionals
• Requirements Engineers
• Individuals seeking to improve their requirements gathering skills

Objectives:

• Understand the role of business analysis in the project lifecycle
• Effectively elicit requirements from a variety of stakeholders
• Master techniques for requirements documentation and modeling
• Validate and verify requirements to ensure accuracy
• Manage requirements throughout the project lifecycle
• Use business analysis to prevent project scope creep
• Translate business needs into technical specifications
• Create a robust requirements traceability matrix
• Develop a strong business case for new projects
• Collaborate effectively with project teams and sponsors

Course Modules:

Module 1: Foundations of Business Analysis

• The role of the business analyst
• The business analysis body of knowledge (BABOK)
• Key competencies of a successful business analyst
• The business analysis lifecycle
• Differentiating between needs, requirements, and solutions

Module 2: Strategic Planning and Business Case Development

• Aligning projects with business strategy
• Conducting a preliminary needs assessment
• Developing a compelling business case
• Performing a feasibility study
• Using a SWOT analysis for project justification

Module 3: Stakeholder Analysis and Management

• Identifying and categorizing stakeholders
• The importance of a stakeholder register
• Techniques for effective stakeholder engagement
• Managing conflicting stakeholder interests
• Building a communication plan for stakeholders

Module 4: Requirements Elicitation Techniques

• Conducting effective interviews and workshops
• Using surveys and questionnaires
• Observing business processes
• Analyzing documents and existing systems
• The role of prototyping and storyboarding

Module 5: Requirements Analysis and Modeling

• Structuring and organizing requirements
• Creating process flow diagrams
• Using use case diagrams and stories
• Data modeling and entity relationship diagrams
• The importance of a requirements hierarchy

Module 6: Documentation and Specification

• Writing clear and concise requirements
• Creating a Business Requirements Document (BRD)
• The importance of a Functional Requirements Specification (FRS)
• Developing a Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM)
• Using templates for consistent documentation

Module 7: Requirements Validation and Verification

• Ensuring requirements are complete and unambiguous
• Techniques for verifying requirements against the solution
• The role of a requirements review meeting
• Validating requirements with stakeholders
• The importance of a requirements checklist

Module 8: Requirements Management and Change Control

• Managing requirements throughout the project lifecycle
• The process for handling change requests
• Using a change control board (CCB)
• The impact of change on project scope, schedule, and budget
• Version control for requirements documentation

Module 9: Business Process Management (BPM)

• Understanding current state (as-is) business processes
• Designing future state (to-be) processes
• Identifying process improvements and efficiencies
• The role of business process modeling notation (BPMN)
• Implementing new processes and procedures

Module 10: The Agile Business Analyst

• The role of the business analyst in an Agile environment
• Writing user stories and acceptance criteria
• Participating in Scrum ceremonies
• The importance of continuous feedback
• Bridging the gap between business and development teams

Module 11: Introduction to Business Architecture

• The relationship between business analysis and enterprise architecture
• Modeling the business landscape
• The role of a business capability map
• Aligning IT projects with business architecture
• The impact on organizational strategy

Module 12: Data Analysis for Business Analysts

• The importance of data in business analysis
• Techniques for analyzing data to identify trends
• Data visualization and reporting
• Understanding data governance and quality
• Using data to drive strategic decisions

Module 13: Solution Assessment and Validation

• Evaluating potential solutions
• Conducting a vendor or tool selection process
• Ensuring the solution meets business requirements
• The role of User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
• Post-implementation review and benefits realization

Module 14: Soft Skills for Business Analysts

• Communication and listening skills
• Negotiation and conflict resolution
• Facilitating effective meetings
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders
• Leadership and influencing without authority

Module 15: Tools for Business Analysis

• Introduction to requirements management software
• Using diagrams and modeling tools
• Collaboration and communication platforms
• Task management and project tracking tools
• Best practices for using digital tools

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.