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906 Cards in this Set

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Value Proposition
Collect and analyze information from a variety of sources using valuation tools and techniques to contribute to determining the value proposition of the initiative
Value Proposition
Collect and analyze information from a variety of sources using valuation tools and techniques to contribute to determining the value proposition of the initiative
Value Proposition
Collect and analyze information from a variety of sources using valuation tools and techniques to contribute to determining the value proposition of the initiative
Value Proposition
Collect and analyze information from a variety of sources using valuation tools and techniques to contribute to determining the value proposition of the initiative
Project Goals
Collaborate on the development of project goals and objectives by providing clarification of business needs and solution scope in order to align the product with the organization's goals and objectives
Stakeholder Values
What stakeholders value regarding the product, using elicitation techniques in order to provide a baseline for prioritizing requirements
Needs Assessment
Describe the tasks necessary in order to fully understand a project
Problem & Opportunity Analysis
Rarely is the originally identified problem or opportunity the problem or opportunity that should be pursued.
What should be done to understand the root cause problem or most beneficial opportunity for the organization?
Analysis
Business Problem
Describes a situation that is hindering an organization from achieving maximum value
A problem statement needs to include what elements?
Problem, What it affects, impact, what a successful solution would include
Business Opportunity
Describes an opportunity that will add value to the business
Business opportunities should only be pursued if they are consistent with the __ and __ of the organization and directly support them.
Goals and Objectives
Project Driver
External factors that motivate an organization to invest in a new project
Market demand, legal requirements, and social needs are examples of what?
Market Drivers
Competitive Analysis is one form of __
Benchmarking
Capability Table
A grid that can be used to list capabilities and helps identify gaps
Scenario Analysis
A technique to explore the current situation from the perspective of the users and interacting system in order to better understand a problem or identify the opportunities that may be leveraged
__ can set the stage for use cases or user stories
Scenarios
User Journey Map
Describes the journey of a user through the lifecycle of a process in a visual format
True or false: There is a standard for modeling Journey Maps
False. There is no standard.
Value Engineering
A cyclical process used to identify and analyze opportunities to increase value
What are some of the benefits of value engineering?
Project life cycle cost optimization, increased profits, more effective use of resources
What is the calculation used in value engineering?
Value = Function/Cost
What are the steps of the Value Engineering process?
Gather information, measure, analyze, generate, evaluate, develop and expand, present ideas
Interrelationship Diagram
A model providing a graphical representation of major factors that helps identify cause and effect relationships among critical issues
How do interrelationship diagrams help wade through problems with lot of interrelated variables?
Forces groups to focus on most important pieces of a problem and identify drivers of problems versus outcomes
Interrelationship Diagrams help identify key __ and effects
Drivers
Solution Scope Statement
A description of the scope of a product, major deliverables, assumptions, and constraints
Which document contains assumptions and constraints?
Solution Scope Statement
True or False: the solution scope is a subset of the Project Scope
True. It will also be included in the business case.
Value
Importance, worth, or usefulness within the context of the project
The Value Proposition is typically written from the eyes of who?
(Potential) Customer
Value Proposition
An analysis of the value an organization can expect to achieve as a result of the recommended solution
Value is often stated in what form?
Financial
What are some non-monetary ways to represent value?
Kano Model, Net Promoter Score
What describes the organization's differentiator in the marketplace?
Value Proposition
Kano Model
A model used to describe what it takes to positively impact customer satisfaction
Expected items in a Kano model represent what?
What must be present, or customers will be pissed (dissatisfiers)
Normal items represent what on a Kano model?
Satisfiers
Exciters on a Kano represent what?
Delighters
Net Promoter Score
A measure based on the fundamental perspective that every company's customers can be divided into three categories: Promoters, Passives, and Detractors
A NPS score of 9-10 represents what type of customer?
Promoter
A NPS score of 0-6 represents what type of customer?
Detractors
A NPS score of 7-8 represents what type of customer?
Passives
Purpose Alignment Model
A method for aligning business decisions, processes, and feature designs around purpose
What are the quadrants you would see on a Purpose Alignment Model?
Who Cares, Parity, Partner, Differentiating
Market Differentiation and Mission Critical represent the two axis on which model?
Purpose Alignment Model
Value Map Streaming
A lean management method for analyzing current state and designing a future state for the series of events that take a product or service from its beginning through to the customer
Value Proposition is another term for what?
Business Case
What is another term for Business Case?
Value Proposition
What are the elements of a business case?
Problem/Opportunity Statement, Business Need, Recommendation, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Evaluation of benefits realized, Assumptions & Constraints, Risks
Scope Diagram
A diagram showing what's in and what's out of scope
Ecosystem Map
A diagram showing relevant systems, the relationship between them, and any data passed between the systems
Feature Model
A model showing the features of a solution in a tree or hierarchical structure. A major features makes up the major brand of the tree with lower level (decomposed) features as sub-branches
Goal Model and Business Objective Model
A diagram for organizing and depicting the relationships between business problems or opportunities, business objective, success metrics, and high-level features as a chain
What are the levels of stakeholder engagement?
Unaware, resistant, neutral, supportive, leadings
Stakeholder Classification Model is also known as what?
Power / Interest Grid
Power / Interest Grid is also known as what?
Stakeholder Classification Model
What are the four quadrants of the Stakeholder Classification Model?
Monitor, Keep Satisfied, Manage closely, keep informed
What are the two axis on a Stakeholder Classification Model?
Power / Interest
Job Analysis
Reviewing job information for potential stakeholders in order to understand how the stakeholder roles and responsibilities fit within the organization in order to develop stakeholder management goals
Skills Assessment
Looks at the skills and competencies of project stakeholders to allow for stakeholder management plans that leverage strengths and can accommodate weaknesses
What is the purpose of that task "Determine Stakeholder Values"?
To provide a baseline for prioritizing requirements
What are the tasks of the Analysis domain?
- Elicit Requirements- Analyze, Decompose, and Elaborate Requirements- Evaluate Product Options and Capabilities- Allocate Requirements- Get Requirements Sign-off- Write Requirements Specification- Validate Requirements- Elaborate and Specify Acceptance Criteria
What is the purpose of the task Analyze, Decompose, and Elaborate Requirements?
To uncover and clarify product options and capabilities
What is the purpose of the Elicit Requirements task?
To discover and capture requirements with supporting details
What is the purpose of the task Evaluate Product Options and Capabilities?
To determine which requirements are accepted, deferred, or rejected
What is the purpose of the task Allocate Requirements?
To allocate in order to create a requirements baseline
What does it mean when a requirement is "Suitable for Development"?
The requirements are in a state such that the project team can satisfy the requirement through product development, testing, and implementation
What is the purpose of the task Get Requirements Sign-off?
To facilitate stakeholder consensus and achieve stakeholder approval
What is the purpose of the task Write Requirements Specification?
To communicate requirements that are measurable and actionable
Requirements that are in a state that is measurable and actionable are called what?
Suitable for Development
What is the purpose of the task Validate Requirements?
To ensure requirements are complete, accurate, and aligned with goals, objectives, and value proposition
What is the purpose of the task Elaborate and Specify Acceptance Criteria?
To evaluate whether the solution meets requirements
What is are the steps of the Iterative Elicitation Process?
Plan, Prepare, Conduct, Document, Complete (Confirm)
True or False: you must strictly follow the elicitation plan when conducting elicitation
False. Start with the plan, but plans are meant to be iterative and adapted
Besides closed-ended and open-ended questions, what are the other types of questions to ask in elicitation?
Contextual, Context-free
What is a "Contextual" type of question?
One whose response will be related to the topic at hand, namely the solution under development
What is a "Context-free" type of question?
One that can be about anything, even outside the context of the solution
What are the five key active listening techniques?
Pay Attention, Show you're listening, Provide Feedback, Defer Judgment, Respond Appropriately
The BA needs to employ __ __ in order to capture all the information that comes with each answer during elicitation
Active Listening
What is a Business Rule Catalog?
A document containing a complete list of business rules
What is a Decision Table?
An easy way to document all factors that may impact the processing of a decision
Decision Tables are typically prepare in what format?
Tabular
What are the four areas that comprise a Decision Table?
Condition stop, Conditions, Action stub, Actions
What is a Decision Tree?
A model that graphically represents complex business rules in a hierarchical structure
What does using a Decision Tree help identify?
Redundancies
What is a Display - Action Response Model
A model used in conjunction with wireframes to identify page elements in the functions, if any, that they are attached to
What do Display - Action Response Models typically trace to?
Wireframes, user stories, user interface flows, and data dictionaries
What is another term for Benchmarking?
Research
What is the Nominal Group Technique?
A voting process used to rank the most useful ideas for further brainstorming or prioritization
What is Idea/Mind Mapping?
Brainstorming ideas are consolidated into a single map to reflect commonality and differences in understanding, and generate new ideas
What is an Affinity Diagram?
A technique that allows a large number of ideas to be classified into groups for review and analysis
What is Multi-criteria Decision Analysis?
A matrix used to provide a systematic and analytical approach to establishing decision criteria, such as risk levels, uncertainty, valuation, and to evaluate and rank many ideas
What does it mean to Elaborate Requirements?
To give more details about something or to discuss it more fully.
Scrutinize, Consider, and Question are synonyms for what?
Analyze
Reducing complexity of interfaces is an example of what type of opportunity?
Continuous Improvement
What is an example of an opportunity for continuous improvement?
Increasing Consistency of Behavior
A State Table is a textual representation of what type of model?
State Diagram
What is Interoperability?
Ability of a computer to run application programs from different vendors, and to interact with other computers across local or WAN regardless of their physical architecture and OS
What is a "Report Table"
A model that captures the detailed level requirements for a single report
What must accompany a "Report Table" model?
A prototype of the actual report
What is a "System Interface Table"?
A model of attributes that captures all of the detailed level requirements for a single system interface
What are some items that might be included in a System Interface Table?
Source System, Target System, Security or other rules
What are some common attributes of a Report Table?
Name, Objective, Data fields, Calculations
What is a "User Interface Flow"
A graphical representation of pages or screens that maps user navigation of the screens based on various triggers
What is a "Dependency Graph"?
A graph representing dependencies of several objects toward each other
True or False: there is a standard method of developing a Dependency Graph
False. There is no single method or process for this model
What is "Business Event Analysis"?
The process of analyzing business events in order to determine organizational responses needed to support the business
Why do we care about "Events"?
Because life, people, customers, and even government and businesses are all event-driven
What is "Scope Creep"?
The uncontrolled expansion to product or project scope without adjustment to time, cost, and resources
What are the considerations for the task Evaluate Product Options and Capabilities?
Product Scope, Requirements (Accepted, Deferred, Rejected), Status
What is "Consensus Building"?
A general term for getting people to generally agree
What are some other terms for "Consensus Building"?
Collaborative problem solving, collaboration
What technique would be best when trying to setting complex, multi-party disputes?
Consensus Building
True or False: Consensus Building involves everyone getting what they want
False. It is everyone agreeing to the same direction, and they're willing to support it (and not sabotage it)
What is the "Delphi" technique?
A way to gain consensus using expert opinion, conducted anonymously through a facilitator until consensus is reached
What technique is commonly used when creating estimates or getting a recommendation on a decision to be made?
Delphi Technique
What is "Multi-voting"?
Involves giving participants multiple votes for applying a variety of options on a specific issue
True or False: the facilitator in Multi-voting can give some votes added weight
True. This may be done.
What is "Nominal Group Technique"?
A process that includes brainstorming to generate ideas.
What is "Options Analysis"?
To analyze the various options to understand the benefits, risks, and consequences of each in order to make a selection that will bring the greatest value
What is "Weighted Criteria"?
A tool used to score various options against pre-selected criteria
What technique would be best when making a decision to determine the best option for moving forward, or in prioritization to rank options against a quantifiable score?
Weighted Criteria
What is another term for Weighted Criteria?
Multi-criteria Decision Analysis
What are some challenges that might be faced with prioritizing?
- Large number of requirements- Changing stakeholder priorities- Uncertainty around resource allocation
Poorly written requirements, competing or conflicting priorities, lack of trust are examples of challenges when doing what?
Prioritization
Requirements baseline includes what?
All approved requirements for the project, phase, increment, iteration, release or any other part of hte project
When does allocation of requirements happen?
Before sign-off
When requirements are baselined, it also means that they are __.
Approved
Which task determines if the solution is ready for deployment?
Elaborate and Specify Acceptance Criteria
What is Planguage?
A set of closely defined identifiers (tags) to describe and quantify specific elements of the requirements
What is a name for planning language?
Planguage
What is the ultimate goal of the Analysis domain?
Product requirements that are approved, within scope, and suitable for development
What are the tasks of the Traceability & Monitoring domain?
- Trace Requirements- Monitor Requirements Status- Update Requirements Status- Communicate Requirements Status- Manage Changes to Requirements
What is at the heart of organizing and managing requirements?
Traceability
Why is traceability performed?
To provide evidence that the requirements are delivered as stated
What are "Interrelationships" in traceability?
Requirements that that relationships to other requirements and deliverables
What does tracking interrelationships provide?
Impact Analysis, Requirements Coverage, Requirements Allocation
True or False: Traceability can be performed at different levels
True. There are many factors that may influence the level of traceability
What are some factors that may influence the level of traceability?
Regulations, Organizational Preferences
What does impact analysis provide?
Valuable input to the requirements change approval process
True or False: A Requirements Traceability Matrix is also used in adaptive projects
False. Instead, stakeholder level requirements will be tracked and maintained via the product backlog
True or False: Risks and problems are the same thing
False. Risks are problems that haven't happened yet, whereas problems have already happened
Conflicts with other requirements that need resolution, uncertainty of requirements specifics, or unconfirmed assumptions are examples of what?
Issues
What technique helps to prevent project barriers and shutdowns by facilitating timely resolution?
Issue (Problem) Resolution
What is another word for an issue?
Problem
What are some important characteristics of a RTM?
Goals and Objectives, Requirements, Design References, Code References, Test References
What tool is useful in managing scope creep?
Requirements Traceability Matrix
Why might a RTM not be used?
On adaptive projects or because it's time-consuming to maintain
A RTM may trace to these types of artifacts
Use Cases, Data Models, Design Documents
User Stories, Process Maps, Data Dictionaries, and Test Cases are examples of items that might be used for what?
Items to include on a Traceability Matrix
What tools might be used to trace requirements?
Word, paper, Excel, DBs, Requirements Management tools
Actively __ and updating the RTM is key to effective traceability and quality requirements
Monitoring
Who is responsible for ensuring that the RTM contains the information needed to support the requirements and status through the SDLC?
Business Analyst
What are the considerations for the task Monitor Requirements?
- Progressive Elaboration- Business Analysis Work Product- Team Deliverables- Issue and Problem Tracking
True or False: The RTM is the only way to monitor the status of requirements
False. There are other way to monitor the status
What is "Progressive Elaboration"?
More details are added as requirements emerge
What are some possible statuses for requirements?
Canceled, deferred, added, completed
Active, Approved, Assigned are examples of what?
Requirements Status
What is a Requirements Life Cycle State Diagram?
A model sed when reporting requirements status to stakeholders
What makes the job of the BA easier?
Proactive Communication
What are some considerations of Communicating Requirements Status?
Format, Venue, Formality, Organizational Standards
BA approach, components included, permanence/retention are examples of what?
Considerations for Communicating Requirements Status
Who is responsible for managing the overall project communications plan?
Project Manager
Who is responsible for managing all communications regarding requirements?
Business Analyst
What should the Requirements Management Plan contain?
Detailed information on who, what, and how to communicate requirements status
What are the three possible methods of communicating requirements status?
Push, Pull, In-person
Email, Formal letters, and distributed reports are examples of what type of communication?
Push
Public web sites, team collaboration websites, and share drives are examples of what type of communication?
Pull
True or False: Virtual communications are considered "in person"
True. They are considered to be in person
True or False: All stakeholders requirement full details about the requirements
False. In fact, providing too much extra detail may be a barrier to some stakeholders reading the requirements and engaging in the information provided
What is the term for planned work that is not yet completed?
Backlog
What are some groups that may represent communication channels?
Executive, Project Sponsor, Business Stakeholders, QA, PM, Technologists
Which stakeholder group includes developers, architects, DBs, web designers, and capacity planners?
Technologists
What type of stakeholder represents the customer and business?
Business
True or False: Project Sponsor level of communication can vary widely
True. They could want a lot of detail, or very little, depending on their level in the organization
Which stakeholder group will want to see things at the higher level?
Executive Management and Sponsors
Which group needs to be involved to understand the detailed functional and nonfunctional requirement to ensure they can deliver testing?
Quality Assurance
Which stakeholder will want to see the requirements, but may not need a unique format for them?
Project Manager
What is the proper approach to managing change?
Assessing impacts, dependencies, and risks in accordance with the change control plan
The requirements __ is referenced in order to maintain integrity of the requirements and artifacts
Baseline
In an adaptive project, what serves as the equivalent of a baseline?
Once a story is pulled into an iteration
What is a VSC?
Version Control System
What is a CMS?
Configuration Management System
What describes a system used to ensure a solution conforms to approved requirements by documenting, tracking, and defining change control approval levels?
Configuration Management System
True or False: a system for managing change must be software
False. Could be as simple as a notebook to track changes.
What are some examples of items that might be traced?
Use cases, process maps, data models, design documents, and test cases
What is a CCB?
Change Control Board
True or False: on a RACI chart, there can be more than one A
False. There can only be one person accountable on a RACI chart.
When are requirements re-baselined?
After changes have been made and approved
What are the themes of the Evaluation domain?
- Evaluate Early and Often- Quality Management- Deployed Solution- Context of Usage and Value- Confirm Expected Values
What are the tasks of the Evaluation domain?
- Validate Test Results- Analyze Solution Gaps- Get Solution Sign-off- Evaluate Solution Results
True or False: The final task of Evaluation is specific to a deployed solution
True, the solution must be implemented and in use for enough time for users to be comfortable and the business able to measure results
What should be leveraged when validating test results?
Requirements Traceability Matrix
True or False: The business analyst is responsible for validating test results
True. It is QA's responsibility to perform the testing, and the BA validates the results
What are some factors to consider when planning for evaluation activities?
- Who will cover the costs for the time and effort needed to conduct the evaluation?- Are there already ways to report and publish the results of an evaluation?- What goal, objective, or risk does it track or confirm?
What is the "Cost of Quality"?
The costs incurred over the life of the product
True or False: The cost of quality is costs incurred over the life of the project
False. It's the costs incurred over the life of a product (not project)
What is the term for the cost of doing it right?
Cost of Conformance
What is the term for how much it will cost if you fail to do it right?
Cost of Non-Conformance
What is the Cost of Conformance?
The costs to achieve the quality objective
What are some things that might be invested in to have a quality product?
Prevention costs, Appraisal costs
Training, documenting processes, equipment, time to do it right are all examples of what type of costs of quality?
Prevention
Testing, inspections, and sampling are examples of what type of costs of quality?
Appraisal
What is Non-Conformance?
How costly it will be if you fail to achieve your quality objectives
What are some types of costs that will be incurred if you are non-conformant?
Internal failure costs, external failure costs
Failures found by the project, re-work, and scrap are examples of what type of cost for non-conformance?
Internal Failure
Liabilities, warranty work, lost business, and loss of market share are examples of what type of cost for non-conformance?
External Failure
What does it mean to Plan Quality?
Define approach, tools, and measures
What does it mean to Perform Quality Assessment?
Work the plan, and continuous improvement
What does it mean to Control Quality?
Get the results, look at the metrics
What are some validation tools & techniques?
Given-when-then, DITL Testing, Exploratory Testing, Integration Testing, UAT
What are some verification tools & techniques?
Desk checking, inspection, peer review, test, walkthrough
Validation tools are used to do what?
Determine the correctness
What is Day-in-the-life Testing?
Testing conducted by someone knowledgeable in the business that focuses on specific scenarios in order to verify that the expected results are realized
Which validation technique is structured, exploratory testing, using specific scenarios?
Day-in-the-Life Testing
Which validation technique is unscripted and helps find unexpected uses and results?
Exploratory Testing
What is another term for Exploratory Testing?
Black Box Testing
True or False: Exploratory testing is a stand-alone validation technique
False. It is used to supplement formal testing, but should not be done in place of them
Which validation technique is used to articulate acceptance criteria?
Given-When-Then
What is Integration Testing?
Testing conducted to ensure that requirements for the complete business processes have been satisfied.
Which validation technique focuses on end-to-end business and includes all of the systems and interaction points within the scope of the solution?
Integration Testing
Who conducts testing in UAT?
Future End Users
Who directs the testing activities in UAT?
Business Analyst and Quality Assurance professionals
True or False: UAT is typically ad-hoc in nature
False. UAT is often scripted and observed to ensure full test coverage
What is the verification technique Desk Checking?
When the person who creates the deliverable reviews their own work prior to presenting it for formal quality control review
What is the verification technique Inspection?
Examination or measurement of a deliverable in order to verify that it meets requirements specifications
Which verification technique implies more rigor, and is methodical and thorough
Inspection
What is a "Test"?
Examination of a work product or deliverable in order to determine the level of quality
What is a "Peer Review"?
A review process involving peers of the author or creator of the work being inspected in order to verify and improve upon quality
True or False: Peer Reviews can be formal or informal
True. They could be either.
What is another name for a formal peer review?
Structured Walkthrough
What is the purpose of a walk-through?
To catch errors, oversights, and incorrect assumptions (early in a project)
True or False: Errors captured later in a project cost more than if they're caught early on
True. The cost is much higher if discovered later
What is another term for a Structured Walk-through?
Requirements Review
To communicate, verify, and validate requirements is the purpose of which verification technique?
Structured Walkthrough
What are some possible disadvantages of doing structured walkthroughs?
Potential for ongoing change and revisions (if not carefully managed), and approval process can be lengthened
What are some outcomes of a requirements review?
List of errors and omissions, list of corrections, deliverable status, approvals/sign-off
What are two different approaches to requirements reviews?
Participant-driven, Document-driven
Which of the two requirements review approaches is typically more thorough?
Document-driven
What are the prerequisites of a requirements review?
Complete requirements package, list of appropriate reviewers, meeting vehicle
What are some other evaluation techniques?
Survey and Focus Groups, Results from Testing, Expected vs. Actual results, outcome measurements and financial calculation of benefits
What is the difference between verification and validation?
Validation is about acceptance from stakeholders, and ensuring their needs are met whereas verification is a quality process that addresses the correctness of the requirements
__ is a quality process that addresses the correctness of the requirements?
Verification
__ is making sure that stakeholder expectations are met and that the requirements solve the problem
Validation
True or False: defects that will not have a significant impact to the business value may be determined acceptance for implementation
True, especially if the impact of the defect is insignificant and/or of the likelihood of the defect being experienced is low
What is "Grade"?
Category or rank used to distinguish items that have the same functional use, but do not share the same quality requirements
What is the "Quality"?
The degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills requirements
Conformance to specifications and fit for use are other ways to express what?
Quality
What is "Precision"?
Measure of exactness
What is "Accuracy"?
Assessment of Correctness
What is a measure of exactness?
Precision
What is a measure of correctness?
Accuracy
Activity Network Diagram, Affinity Diagram, Cause and Effect, Interrelationship Diagram, Matrix Diagram, and Tree Diagrams are examples of what?
Quality Management Tools & Techniques
What are some examples of quality management tools and techniques?
Checksheet, Control Charts, Design of Experiments, Flow Charts, Histograms, Pareto Diagram, PDPC, Scatter Diagram, Statistical Sampling
What are some standard categories to include on a fishbone diagram?
Machines, Materials, Methods, People
What is a "Checksheet"?
Capturing real-time data at the time and place where the observations are made
What is a "Checklist"?
included in the quality plan, it's used to "mistake-proof" a process and to confirm that all steps have occurred
What describes a collection of data at the point of collection?
Checksheet
Which technique is used to "mistake-proof" processes?
Checklist
What is a Pareto Chart?
A chart used to identify the "vital few" causes of most quality problems
The 80/20 Principle is also called what?
Pareto Analysis
What are the primary components of a Pareto Chart?
- Before and After Measures- Breakpoint- Categories of Contributors- Cumulative Percentage- Magnitude of Contribution- Major Cause Breakdown- Trivial Many- Vital Few
In a Pareto Chart, the vital few represent what?
The 20% of issues that cause 80% of the problems
What is a "Histogram"?
A bar chart showing how often something occurs
What element is not typically included on a histogram?
Time, and how variations occur over time
What is a Quality Control Chart?
A chart to determine whether a process is stable or has predictable performance over type
What are LCL and UCLs on a QC Chart?
Lower Control and Upper Control limits
What are USL and LSL on a QC Chart?
Upper and Lower specification limits
What do upper and lower control limits represent?
Voice of the Data
What do upper and lower specification levels represent?
Voice of the Customer
What do QC charts help to identify?
If the process is out of control or in control
True or False: Quality Control charts can be used only for product life cycles
False. They can be used for both project and product life cycles
What does the middle line in a QC chart represent?
The mean or average
Process Decision Program Charts are used to do what?
A method used to understand a goal and the steps required to get to the goal
What method is used to identify potential issues or problems in implementing the process and developing contingencies
Process Decision Program Charts
Scatter Diagrams are used for what?
To show relationship or correlations between independent and dependent variables
Which diagram is used to show correlation between independent variables?
Scatter Diagram
True or False: Scatter Diagrams show cause and effect
False. They do not show cause and effect on their own; additional analysis is required
What is a Design of Experiments?
A method using statistical "what-if" scenarios to determine which combination of variables produce the best or desired quality outcome
Unlike other techniques, design of experiments provides a tool for modifying __ __ at the same time
Multiple Factors
What is "Statistical Sampling"?
A method of taking a sample of product to inspect it for quality, typically used when it's not cost-effective to test every product
What are the two types of statistical sampling?
Attribute, Variable
What is Attribute Sampling?
The result is rated by if the product conforms or not
What is Variable sampling?
The result is rated by the degree of conformity
When is evaluation performed?
After a solution is deployed at the project is closed
What serve as the basis for evaluation?
KPIs and Acceptance Criteria
What are some items that may be considered when performing a lessons learned?
- Things that went well on a project- Stakeholder concerns or issues- Performance and variances from plan
What are the four types of solution replacement strategies?
- Massive one-time cutover- Segmented cutover- Time-boxed coexistence- Permanent coexistence
What are the tasks of the Planning domain?
Determine Project Context, Plan Requirements Traceability, Plan Requirements Management, Plan Requirements Change Control, Plan Document Control, Define Project Expected Outcomes
Review the business case, project goals and objectives, in order to provide context for business analysis describes what task?
Determine Project Context
Define strategy for requirements traceability in order to establish the level of traceability necessary to monitor and validate the requirements describes what task?
Plan Requirements Traceability
Develop requirements mangaement plan in order to establish a roadmap for delivery the expected solution describes what task?
Plan Requirements Management
Preparing to effectively manage business analyis activities and requirements life cycle management described what?
The goal of the Planning Domain
Select methods for document control to establish a standard for requirements traceability and versioning describes what task?
Plan Requirements Change Control
Define bsuiness metrics and acceptance criteria for use in evaluating when the solution meets the requirements describes what task?
Define Project Expected Outcomes
What is an EEF?
Enterprise Environmental Factor
What describes an Enterprise Environmental Factor?
Constraints that you can't put your finger on, but they're part of the environment
What are the considerations for Planning?
Project, Business, Stakeholders, # of impacted, Requirements, Experience with
What are the areas of context for requirements?
Business Need, Project Context, Requirements
What does context provide?
A way to understand the meaning of the information gathered
Business goals, objectives, problem or opportunity statements are examples of what type of context?
Business
Project scope, objectives and actions, deliverables, and approach are examples of what type of context?
Project, Business, Stakeholders, # of impacted, Requirements, Experience with
Stakeholder and solution requirements are an example of what type of context?
Requirements
What is the purpose of understanding the project background?
To paint a picture of what the project is about and to align back to business goals and objectives
Why is it important to understand project context?
It provies business analysts with an understanding of the project boundaries (scope) within which the requirements must align
What types of documents might be reviewed when performing the task Determine Project Context?
Project Charter, Initiation Document
Who should be consulted with when determining project context?
Team Members, Project Manager, Sponsor, SMEs
What is a framework?
Something that provides structure for support or guidance for something
What is a methdology?
A prescriptive "how-to" set of processes, templates, and artifacts
Method 1, RUP, and Prince 2 are examples of what?
Methdology
A __ __ contains phases (birth-death)
Life Cycle
What is a Project Phase?
A collection of logically related project activities that culminate in the completion of one or more deliverables
What are the standard phases of a traditional project management life cycle?
Initiate, Plan, Execute, Monitor/Control, Close
True or False: the steps of the product management life cycle are always the same
TRUE. At the product level, they are true. However, at the project level, they may vary
Applying project management discipline, from initiating to closing, to each project phase describes what?
Project Management Life Cycle
The __ selected will determine the activities that need to be done and the sequence of those tasks
Approach
True or False: Iterative projects include planned re-work
True. This is the nature of this approach.
What artifact is the arguably the most important one developed by the BA?
Requirements Traceability Matrix
True or False: The RTM may take many forms.
True. But regardless of form, the purpose is to trace requirements backward and forward
True or False: Traceability is not used when taking an adaptive approach
False. Traceability is still performed, but the manner of tracing it is different
When looking back at how a project went when using a Predictive approach, what is the process called?
Lessons Learned
When looking back at how a project went when using a Adaptive approach, what is the process called?
Retrospective
When using a predictive project, when do Lessons Learned typically ocur?
At the end of the project
True or False: Lessons Learned on a predictive project only happen at the end.
False. This may or may not be done during and at the end of a project.
When using a predictive project, when do Lessons Learned typically ocur?
At the end of each sprint, throughout the project
Why is it important to plan for the business analysis activities to be performed?
Otherwise, you may not be allowed sufficient time to perform your BA activities.
True or False: Estimation does not need to be done by the person who will be doing the work.
False. It is optimal to have the person who will do the work provide the estimates for it.
The document that governs risk is called?
Risk Management Plan
True or False: The BA's risk plan will be indepdenent of hte overlal Requirements Management Plan.
False. It may be separate, or may be included
What are the steps to plan risk management?
Identify, Control, Quality, Quantify, Plan Response
What is contingency planning?
Planning for an event that could affect the execution of the project
Impact ($) * Probability (%) = __ __ ($)
Contingency Reserve
What is the Precedence Diagramming Method?
An activity network diagramming technique used for constructing a schedule model
What is another term for a Network Diagram?
Precedence Digramming Method
What is another term for the Requirements Management Plan?
Business Analysis Plan
What is another term for Business Analysis Plan?
Requirements Analysis Plan
A process whereby modifications to documents, deliverables, or baselines associated with the project are identified, documented, approved, or rejected
Change Control Process
What is a requirements baseline?
An approved starting point (from which to manage change)
After which stage of the SDLC are requirements typically baselined?
Analyze
What happens after a change is approved and requriements are updated?
They are re-baselined
At what point in an adaptive project are requirements considered baselined?
Once they are included in the current sprint
The formal tools, processes, an dprocedures that are used to management changes is called what?
Configuration Management System
True or False: a configuration management system is always a software application
False. It may be done manually, or may be assisted by software
What is an example of a configuration management system?
Document Management System
What is the output of the task Plan Document Control?
Document Control Plan
What is the final step of planning?
Define Project Expected Outcomes
Another term for Evaluating Expected Outcomes is what?
Solution Evaluation
Who "owns" the acceptance criteria in a Predictive project?
Project Sponsor
Who "owns" the acceptance criteria in an Adaptive project?
Product Owner
What is the "Needs Assessment" domain?
The business analysis work that is conducted in order to analyze a current business problem or opportunity
What domain assesses the current internal and external environments and current organizational capabilities to determine the viable solution options that would help the org meet the desired future state?
Needs Assessment
What is a project?
A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result
What is a program?
A group of related projects, subprograms, and program activities managed in a coordinated way
When is needs assessment undertaken?
Before program or project work begins
Needs assessment is considered part of __-__ activities
Pre-project
Gap analysis is a technique that is performed during which domain?
Needs Assessment
The outputs of Needs Assessment are typically used to create what?
Business Case
The business case is the __ for determining project objectives
Foundation
True or False: the Business Case is an input into the Project Charter
TRUE
True or False: there are usually no negative consequences of sidestepping needs assessment
False. Many negative outcomes could result
True or False: Needs Assessment can focus on a solution right away
False. This should not be done, as it would inhibit evaluation of other possible solutions
When are stakeholders typically identified?
As a part of needs assessment
Why is stakeholder identification important?
To assess which stakeholders are impacted by the area under analysis
What is a Stakeholder?
An individual, group, or organization that may affect, or be affected by an outcome of a decision, program, or product
Who is responsible for the RACI?
Both project managers and business analysts have an interest in this, but their goals may be different. It's an opportunity to collaborate, but efforts should not be duplicated
What are the tasks of Needs Assessment?
Define Business Need, Determine Value Proposition, Develop Project Goals, Identify Stakeholders, Determine Stakeholder Values
When no internal data exists or it cannot feasibly be collected, which technique might be used?
Benchmarking
What is Benchmarking?
A comparison of the metrics or processes from one organization against a similar one in the industry that is reporting or finding similar industry averages
What are some data points that might be included when performing benchmarking:
Cycle types for a business process to complete transaction volumes, Amount of money lost per transaction, web metrics, Potential increase in sales or market share, market size, etc.
What is the format of a situation statement?
Problem (or opportunity), has the effect of, with the impact of
Who drafts the situation statement?
Business Analyst
The situation statement is an input into what artifact?
Project Charter
Organizational __ and __ are important inputs for the business analyst when they begin documenting business requirements
Goals and Objectives
What are business requirements?
Goals, Objectives, and higher-level needs of the organization that provide the rationale for why a project is being undertaken
When are business requirements defined?
Before a solution is determined
True or False: Goals are usually broad-based
True. They may span one or more years
True or False: Objectives are specific
True. They are used to enable goals, and tend to be shorter-term than goals
What links goals & objectives and programs & projects?
The Business Case
What are SMART goals?
Ones that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound
Why are goals and objective important in needs assessment?
They provide the context and provide direction for any change that addresses the business need
What technique might be used in lieu of organizational strategy, goals & objectives?
SWOT analysis
What are the internal components of SWOT?
Strengths, Weaknesses
What are the external components of SWOT?
Opportunities, Threats
What is root cause analysis?
An analytical technique used to determine the basic underlying reason that causes a variance, defect, or risk
What is opportunity analysis?
A study of the major facets of a potential opportunity to determine variability
True or False: Process Flows may be used to perform root cause analysis
True. They can be used in conjunction with root causes analysis
During needs analysis, the BA will recommend suitable __ based on discoveries made
Capabilities
If no formal root cause analysis is performed, business people tend to do what?
Just to solutions to solve their perceived problems
What is a capability table?
A model depicting the problems with root causes, along with new capabilities or features to solve the issues
What is an affinity diagram?
A diagram showing categories and subcategories of ideas that cluster or have an affinity to each other
How are affinity diagrams used?
to help organize and structure major cause categories and organize them by capabilities needed to solve them
What are some common methods for assessing current capabilities?
Process flows, enterprise and business architecture, capability frameworks
True or False: there is rarely only one potential solution to a business problem
True. There may be many potential solutions, but the BA should make a recommendation for the most viable
What is the primary reason for providing alternative solutions?
to show that alternatives were considered and to forestall objections from those who favor them
True or False: the BA is responsible for choosing the solution
False. The BA makes a recommendation, but the decision is made by the business sponsor or problem owner
What should be included along with the solution options?
Assumptions and Constraints
What are constraints?
Limitations on a team's option to execute a program or project, and may be business or technical-related
What are assumptions?
Factors that are considered to be true, but without proof
What are the different types of feasibility analysis?
Operational, Technology/System, Cost effectiveness, Time
When conducting weighted ranking, with whom should the BA consult to determine who can vote?
project Sponsor
Which types of people should be consulted when doing a cost-benefit analysis?
Finance analysts
What are the different types of financial valuation?
Payback period, Return on investment, Internal rate of return, Net present value
What is "payback period"?
The time needed to recover a project investment, usually in months or years
True or False: The longer the payback period, the higher the risk
True; some organization may set a threshold
What is Return on Investment?
The percentage return on an initial project investment
What is the calculation for ROI?
Project average of net benefits / initial project cost
What is Internal Rate of Return?
Project annual yield of a project investment, including both initial and ongoing costs (estimated growth rate % the project is expected to attain)
What is Net Present Value?
The future value of expected project benefits expressed in the value those benefits have at the time of investment
True or False: a NPV greater than zero is considered a worthwhile investment
True; alough a project with an NPV less than zero may be approved (for example, if it's a government initiative)
True or False: not all problems or opportunities require a formal business case
True. Some organization may approve programs or projects in other ways
What are some common components of a business case?
Problem/opportunity, analysis of the situation, recommendation, evaluation
What might result if a business case is not prepared?
Product scope may be unclear or poorly defined, leading to scope creep, rework, cost overruns, and delays
With whom should the business analyst work to prepare the business case?
The project sponsor, and if there is one assigned, the project manager
Why is stakeholder identification and analysis critical?
To ensure the project has the right inputs and information for developing recommendations and getting project scope and requirement approvals
What is Business Analysis Planning?
Consists of the activities that are performed to ensure the optimal business analysis approach is selected
What are some reasons for BA Planning?
- To thoroughly identify and analyze stakeholders- Choose the BA activities and deliverables- Identify processes for validating, verifying, and approving requirements and solutions- Understand the process for proposing changes- Making sure key stakeholders are aware and support the activities and time commitments
What is the Business Analysis Approach?
The method the business analyst uses when managing and performing the BA activities on the project
In which artifact is the Business Analysis approach described?
Business Analysis Plan
Business Analysis planning is heavily dependent on what?
The selected project life cycle
True or False: there is one approach to business analysis planning that will work for every project
False; the context and project characteristics will affect which approach will work best
What is a critical portion of the overall project activities?
Business Analysis Planning
What is dependent on adequate business analysis?
Program and Project success
True or False: Business Analysis planning and scheduling is performed independently of project management
False. The best practice is to have the PM and BA working closely together while the BA approach and plan are formulated
True or False: the BA Plan must be included in the overall project management plan
True. The BA Plan should be integrated with the PM plan managed by the Project Manager
What is a "Stakeholder"?
Any individual, group, or organization that might affect, or be affected by a program or project
True or False: Stakeholder may be those who perceive themselves to be affected by a decision, project or program
True.
What is "Stakeholder Analysis"?
A technique to systematically gather and analyze quantitative and qualitative information to determine whose interested should be taken into account
When is stakeholder analysis most typically conducted?
During the Planning Phase
Why is it important to analyze stakeholders during planning?
So the project team can understand the stakeholder impacts and influences on the BA process as early as possible
True or False: Stakeholder Analysis is completed in Planning and is not revisited
False. Stakeholder analysis is conducted iteratively and is regularly revisited
How do project managers use stakeholder analysis?
To assess how the stakeholder groups will influence and impact the project work
How do business analysts use stakeholder analysis?
They use the results to understand how the stakeholders will impact the business analysis process
Which role uses stakeholder analysis to understand how stakeholders will influence and impact project work?
Project Manager
Which role uses stakeholder analysis to understand how stakeholders will impact the business analysis process?
Business Analyst
When is the initial stakeholder list is generated?
Early Planning
True or False: PMs and BAs use stakeholder analysis to understand how to communicate, collaborate, manage, and set expectations
True, but the BA also considers a number of stakeholder characteristics to determine how to best conduct business analysis activities
Which techniques are typically used to identify stakeholders?
Brainstorming, Decomposition modeling, interviews, survey, Organizational Charts
Brainstorming is comprised of these two parts
Idea Generation, Analysis
What technique might be used to generate the initial list of stakeholders, discover new stakeholders, or to identify a list of tasks to include in the BA work plan?
Brainstorming
What is the goal of stakeholder analysis?
To identify all stakeholders who have needs to be met by the product or service and may have requirements for it
True or False: Oversight of just one role can result in solution implementation failure
True; the solution may fail to meet the needs or hundreds or thousands of customers if a stakeholder is missed
Stakeholder who are positive about the project may serve as what?
Project Champions
True or False: stakeholder attitudes are solely based upon likes and dislikes
False. A stakeholder who exerts dislike or disinterest may simply see not value in the solution, or may not receive direct value from the work
Why is it important to understand stakeholders with negative attitudes?
Understanding their concerns will help to engage them despite their lack of support for the project
What are some stakeholder attributes that are common to consider?
Attitude, complexity, experience, culture, level of influence, location and availability
Understanding __ __ will help when quantifying and planning the number of requirements session to conduct
Complexity levels
What are top two reasons for project complexity?
Multiple stakeholders, ambiguity in project features
The number of stakeholders, stakeholders with vastly different needs and lack of uniformity in business processes describe what?
Complexity factors
What are some aspects of culture that might be considered?
Age, nationality, departmental or organizational culture
How might cultural difference impact stakeholders?
How work is performed, how team members interact, non-verbal communication, questioning or interacting with authority
How will understanding and recognizing cultural differences help the BA?
In gaining awareness and appreciation for delivery they can use their understanding to run a more effective BA process
What factors should a BA consider when evaluating stakeholder experience?
- The number of years of industry experience- Whether they have worked with the organization for an extended period of time- Whether the stakeholder is new to the organization- Breadth of business knowledge (to help identify gaps)
What does understanding the level of stakeholder influence help a BA with?
Identifying where influence can serve as a motivator or distractor
True or False: Influence is often tied to a person's position in the organization
True, but it's also affected by business relationships, reputation, knowledge or level of experience, or success in the organization
When considering level of influence, the BA should analyze the the __ an individual or stakeholder possesses.
Power
When considering location and availability of stakeholders, what factors should a BA consider?
- Whether remote work is supported, and if so, where remote work occurs- The frequency that stakeholders work from each location- Connectivity methods
Analyzing stakeholder location and availability helps a BA with what?
- Choosing the best approach for collaboration- Scheduling business analysis activities- Choosing the techniques for conducting business analysis
Why might it be useful to group stakeholders?
Large stakeholder lists can quickly become long and difficult to manage, and grouping makes it easier to manage
What are some ways stakeholders might be grouped?
Similar interests, common needs, level of important, role, motivations, complexity levels, location, etc.
What techniques are used to conduct stakeholder analysis and/or grouping?
Job analysis, organizational modeling, persons, process modeling, risk analysis, and stakeholder maps
True or False: stakeholder analysis results are not sensitive
False; they could be sensitive in nature so tread carefully when sharing the information
True or False: the intent of stakeholder analysis is to stereotype
False; the goal is obtain a better understanding of them to aid in conducting BA activities
True or False: the BA plan is formal and must be included in the PM plan
False. It may be formal or informal, but if it were formal, it would be included in the Project Management Plan
Assumptions should be included in which document?
Business Analysis Plan
What is "rolling wave planning"?
Planning rom a high-level first, and a more detailed level late in the project when activities are ready to be performed
What is a Business Analysis Plan?
Planning from a high-level first, and a more detailed level late in the project when activities are ready to be performed
True or False: the Business Analysis Plan and Requirements Management Plan are the same thing
False. The Requirements Management plan is a component of the Project Management plan and describes how the overall requirements will be elicited, analyzed, documented and managed.
The Requirements Management plan covers planning decisions for both the __ and __ requirements.
Product and Project
At a very high-level, the Business Analysis Plan includes what?
All information that is documented regarding business analysis planning decisions.
What is a best practice for documenting the Requirements Management Plan?
The BA and PM should work together to ensure content is not duplicated between the requirements management plan and the Business Analysis plan
What specific items should be included in a Business Analysis Plan?
- List of activities to be conducted- List of business deliverables to be produced- List of roles requirements to successfully conduct the business analysis process- Key decisions for things such as: prioritization, documentation, validation, communication, requirements approvals/changes
If a decision is made and team members don't agree, who is responsible for negotiating and bring the team to consensus?
Business Analyst
True or False: a BA plan can include the rationale for decisions that were made
True, this is a good practice
What elements of a BA plan may be influenced by the project life cycle approach selected?
Type of elicitation activities, requirements analysis models, how requirements will be documented, deliverables, roles and responsibilities, how requirements will be prioritized, etc.
What is the right level of business analysis planning?
The BA should avoid being too prescriptive and try to find a balance in the amount of planning performed.
What are some considerations when deciding on the level of BA planning?
- Balancing between flexibility and management- Do not sacrifice good management practices for flexibility
True or False: the BA Plan should be detailed
False. It should provide enough guidance to ensure quality, but should not plan out every step of the process
What are some good first steps when starting business analysis planning?
Review the business case, project goals, and objective to obtain the necessary context
Type of project, risk level, selected project life cycle, technology trends, market conditions are example of what?
Project characteristics that should be considered when project context
What are some project characteristics to consider when thinking about project context?
Risk tolerance, geographic distribution of stakeholders, imposed constraints or regulations, level of detail and formality required
What defines the structure for managing the project?
The Life Cycle
What is a project lifecycle?
The series of phases that a project passes through from initiation to closure
True or False: The BA should tailer process decisions in accordance with the project life cycle selected
TRUE
What are the three names for predictive types of projects?
Traditional, Waterfall, Plan-driven
The project life cycle impacts decisions about business analysis processes such as what?
Timing of activities, approach for prioritization, methods for addressing changes, deliverables, etc.
Who is responsible for stakeholder engagement?
The BA is responsible for stakeholder engagement in the business analysis process whereas the PM is responsible for project stakeholder engagement
What is a best practice by teams to discuss, analyze, and document feedback about completed project activities?
Lessons Learned (in plan-driven projects)
When do lessons learned typically take place?
At the end of a major phase or the completion of a project
What is the process for retrospectives?
Set the stage, gather data, generate insights, decide what to do, close
What is the purpose of a retrospective?
To identify areas where team performance can be improved, and to reflect on success
What is the difference between a Lessons Learned and a Retro?
The biggest difference is the timing and speed by which issues raised are addressed and the formality arounding documenting the learnings
True or False: Retros can only be used with adaptive projects
False. Though this is more typical, retrospectives could be performed in any type of project
When planning for elicitation, what should the BA think about?
How and when to elicit, which techniques to use, and the sequence of the activities
Why is elicitation planning performed?
To ensure sufficient time is allocated for the elicitation work
What happens when insufficient time is allocated for elicitation activities?
Dependent downstream tasks may be delayed
What are some strategies that could be used when choosing how to sequence elicitation activities?
Focus on: areas of greater risk, significant technical challenges, dependences, third-party resources
What constrains the sequencing of the elicitation activities?
Project dates key stakeholders impose on the project
Planning for analysis is __ and occurs throughout the project
Iterative
When should the BA make the decision about how requirements be prioritized?
Before they are prioritized (as a part of planning)
Which skills will a BA leverage when prioritizing requirements?
Negotiation and Conflict Management
What factors might be considered when choosing a prioritization method?
- When prioritization will occur- Likelihood of changes to priority- Who is involved in the process- What criteria will be used- Technique that will be used- Who will approve the decisions
Which life cycle makes incorporating changes more difficult?
Predictive
What are some major factors to consider in prioritization?
Value, Cost, Difficult, Regulatory, Risk
What are some common techniques for prioritization?
MoSCoW, multivoting, timeboxing, weighted ranking
What is involved with traceability?
Documenting requirement relationships and is used in business analysis to maintain product scope
True or False: Traceability only goes one direction
False. Traceability allows you to trace backwards to find the origin, and also forward to see how the requirements was tested and implemented
What are requirements that are documented, but fail to race to a business need?
Out of Scope
What are requirements that fail to trace to a solution component?
Areas where the product is not in compliance with the requirements
If traceability is performed, what does that help a BA understand?
How the change impacts related project components and test cases
What helps to ensure that the impacts of requirements change are properly assessed and quantified from a risk, cost, and time perspective?
Traceability
What types of projects require more traceability?
Higher-risk or more complex projects
What are some things to consider when planning traceability?
- Level of detail to trace to- Relationships that will be established and maintained- Requirements attributes to be tracked- Tools to use to perform traceability
What must be considered when planning traceability?
The value of the process should be compared against the time and costs required to establish and support it
True or False: too much traceability can work against a project team
True. It can also incur costs and schedule impacts unnecessarily
True or False: the BA may define the traceability approach independently
False. the BA should collaborate with the team and PM on traceability
What is a communication approach?
How business analysis information will e structure and when communication to stakeholders will occur
What should a BA consider when planning communications?
- Who requires communications and what info they expect- STakeholder preferences for receiving information- Preferred delivery methods- Level of formality- Tools, including repositories, which stakeholders will need access to
Time Zone and physical location of stakeholders are additional considerations when planning what?
Communications
With whom should the BA consult when planning communications?
The Project Manager, and collaboration should occur to decide where the communication plan should be housed
What will save tremendous time and confusion when decisions need to be made?
Having a thorough understanding of the types of decisions that stakeholders will be requirement to make, along with an assessment of authority levels
How should the decision-making process be defined?
Collaboratively with stakeholder input
In which document is the decision-making process documented?
business Analysis Plan
What are some considerations to think about when choosing a decision-making method?
- Types of decisions that will be made- Roles and authority levels- Process to follow when consensus cannot be reached- Required turnaround time for a decision
What is requirements "verification"?
Verification is the evaluation of whether a product, service, or system complies with a regulation, requirement, specification, or imposed condition. (i.e. meets quality standards)
What is requirements "Validation"?
The assurance that a product, service, or system meets the needs of hte customer or other identified stakeholders
What does requirements verification ensure?
That requirements are constructed properly and that models are clean enough to be used effectively
What does requirements validation ensure?
That each requirement aligns to one or more business requirements, and that they accurately reflect with the project is expected to deliver
What techniques are to use to validate requirements?
Structured Walkthrough and Traceability
What do both requirements verification and validation ensure?
That the right product will be built
Which quality process can leverage a checklist?
Verification
When should quality standards be defined?
Before requirements development and verification activities
True or False: Validation comes before verification
False. Verification is performed first
Which project approach anticipated requirements to evolve over time?
Adaptive
Changes to requirements may involve what?
- Change in scope- A restated business objective- Addition or deletion of features to the product or service
When should a BA consider planning a requirements change process?
When the project approach uses a formal change control process
Why is it important to document a change control process (for predictive projects)?
So stakeholders know how to request a change and how changes will be assessed for impact
When documenting a change control process what are some considerations?
- How requirements changes will be proposed- How changes will be reviewed- How change management decisions will be documented- How requirements changes will be communicated- How changes to related artifacts will be completed and made available
In which document should the requirements change control process be documented?
It could be included in the BA plan or the Project Management Plan. The BA and PM should collaborate to decided with to include it.
What does defining the solution evaluation process identify?
How a solution is evaluated during the evaluation phase, which activities will be performed, what techniques will be applied, and how info will be analyzed
Which process determines whether a solution has achieved the desired business result?
Evaluation
When is evaluation performed?
Before and after a solution is implemented
What can evaluation that happens after a solution is implemented lead to?
New or changes requirements may be identified, which can lead to refinement of the solution or can generate new projects
In which document are expected benefits for a product or solution identified?
Business Case
True or False: Evaluation in planning is meant to determine how to measure the benefits defined in the business case
TRUE
What are some evaluation factors that need to be defined during planning?
- Evaluation criteria and acceptance- Qualitative and Quantitative evaluation activities to perform- How the solution will be evaluated- When and how often evaluation will be performed- What techniques will be used for evaluation
Who owns the responsibility for planning the business analysis work?
It depends on the organization. In some it could be the BA, in others it could be the PM. This an area of overlap between the roles.
Who is ultimately responsible and accountable for managing all project activities?
Project Manager
Which planning document covers the work to be performed during the business analysis process?
The Business Analysis Work Plan
What project information might be needed for a BA to prepare their BA work plan?
Selected project life cycle, project size, known risks, organizational process assets, etc.
What is the first step in building the business analysis work plan?
identifying the deliverables that the BA is responsible for producing
True or False: All information collected and documented by the BA are considered deliverables
False. Deliverables only include unique and verified products, results, or capabilities to perform a service that is required to produced to complete a process, phase or project
What are some examples of work products?
Agendas, meeting minutes, parking lot lists, etc.
True or False: Deliverables are more formal than work products
True. they are often required and formatted for consistency across projects and often have an approved structure or template
Focus on: areas of greater risk, significant technical challenges, dependencies, third-party resources
Deliverables
What are some considerations when documenting deliverables for a business analysis work plan?
- What deliverables will be produced- How changes to deliverables will be managed- Level of formality- How deliverables will be accesses- Whether requirements will be reused
From whom must the BA seek input from when determining which deliverables to document in their BA plan?
Sponsor, Project Manager, and Key Stakeholders
Each __ requires the completion of one or more activities
Deliverable
Which techniques could be used to identify tasks needed to complete deliverables?
Brainstorming, decomposition modeling, interviews, lessons learned
What are some items that are typically analyzed using decomposition models?
Solution scope, organizational units, work products, processes, functions
True or False: Decomposition Models are difficult to produce
False. They are easy to produce, and are also easily constructed and understood by stakeholders
True or False: Decomposition Models are ineffective at analyzing highly complex concepts
False. They allow the complex concepts to be broken down into management elements.
True or False: Decomposition models cannot be used to show sequence
True. They can't show sequence or steps
What is another term for "Decomposition Model"?
Decomposition Diagram
In addition to being influenced by the life cycle, sequencing of business analysis activities is also influenced by what?
Natural order, because some tasks require the completion of outputs produced by other activities
What are some factors to consider when sequencing business analysis tasks?
- Availability of resources- Downstream needs- Relationship of project work to other organizational work- Contractual and statement of work obligations- Training dependencies- Staffing and new hire needs- Risk and complexity levels of tasks
True or False: using a RACI would be good to define the responsibilities of BAs versus PMs
True. this could help minimize confusion and conflicts, especially in areas where responsibilities overlap
The BA must ensure that all __ __ impacted by the project are represented by a resource during requirements activities
Functional Areas
What are some considerations when estimating?
- Project size and complexity- Selected project lifecycle- Amount of ambiguity around proposed solution- Number of stakeholders- Types of elicitation activities- Location of resources- Schedule and budget constraints- Known assumptions- Quantity of BA deliverables - Project team's experience
True or False: Estimating is an iterative process
True. Estimates should always be revisited as the project progresses and more information becomes known
True or False: the PM is responsible for updating business analysis estimates when they change
False. The PM and BA should collaborate to decide how revisions to the business analysis estimates should occur
The document containing the business analysis deliverables, tasks and activities, and required resources for completing the work is called what?
Business Analysis Work Plan
The PM and BA coordinate on the level of detail for business analysis work in the project management plan. What are some factors to consider?
- Complexity of the BA effort- Project size- Amount of BA work being tracked- Type of project lifecycle
True or False: When the project is complex, the PM may prefer low-level details regarding BA activities
True. In this case, the PM might ask that BA activities be tracked by the BA in a separate business analysis work plan
What might help to reduce uncertainty about decisions made during planning efforts?
Document the basis for the decision, providing assurance that the plan is thought out and purposeful
What does including the rationale for decisions give the project team?
Context, and it helps answer questions regarding why and how the work is being performed
What does including the rationale for decision give the PM?
Context needed to support and fund the work, manage it, and justify the roles and resources required to complete the work
What is the sponsor's role in regards to business analysis activities?
To understand the approach and champion it, lend support, and rally stakeholders around the importance of the business analysis activities
True or False: Business Analysis Plans can become useful organizational process assets for future use
True. Especially when the rationale is included
What is the objective of reviewing the Business Analysis plan with stakeholders?
To reduce the risk of stakeholders failing to support business analysis activities when the work begins
What must stakeholders be aware of in regards to business analysis activities?
- their role in the process- the time commitment for their participation- how decisions are made about requirements priorities- how changes are handled
What is the benefit of reviewing the business analysis plan with the stakeholders?
Helps obtain buy-in early, and minimizes the risk of stakeholder conflict when activities are underway
True or False: when stakeholders feel a sense of ownership in the process, they're more likely to demonstrate a higher level of interest and remain engaged
True. The review process is a way to reduce the possibility of overlooking a stakeholder characteristic, concern, or limitation that could negatively influence the business analysis process
What can review sometimes uncover?
Unknown risks such as a shortage of resources, schedule conflicts, or concern over assigned roles
Who is typically included in a review of the business analysis plan?
Project sponsor, project manager, lead person who represents downstream requirements recipients, such as development managers, QA managers, and training managers
Gaining approval of the BA plan helps reduce what types of project risks?
- Lack of support for BA activities by stakeholders- Underestimating the amount of time BA activities will take- Funding allocated to the requirements phase being inadequate- Key resources being unavailable to participate in BA activities
True or False: Formal BA plan should be updated in a controlled fashion
True. Once the plan is approved, it is baselined, and change should be managed
True or False: Elicitation is the same thing as collecting or gathering requirements
False. It's more than that, because it implies stakeholders already have requirements.
True or False: Requirements are ready and waiting in the stakeholder's minds.
False. Stakeholders may not have actual requirements, but often have needs and wants.
True or False: It is the BA's responsibility to help stakeholders define the problem or opportunity and determine what should be done to address it
True. The elicitation process helps facilitate this work
What is a core input for business analysis work?
Results of elicitation
Elicitation results become the basis to complete what other business analysis tasks?
Support executive decision-making, apply influence, assist in negotiation, resolve conflict, define problems
True or False: BAs have vested authority
False. They do not, therefore, they should use their influence in order to get things done
__ is more successful when it is backed with information that supports the goal
Influence
The BA should elicit information and motivations of __ sies in conflict negotiation
ALL
True or False: conflict in business is usually the result of misinformation or assumptions based on a lack of information
True. This is often the case, and conflict is also resolved using information
What can failure to elicit enough information result in?
Erroneous conclusions and increased number of assumptions
True or False: eliciting too much information can hinder a team's ability to move forward
True. The art of elicitation is to obtain enough information to validate requirements and confirm the team is delivering the right solution
What are some benefits of a well-thought out elicitation approach?
- Fewer unnecessary elicitation activities- More valuate results from elicitation session- More efficient and predictable use of stakeholder time- Better overall focus on the entire elicitation process- Clearer idea of the necessary information to define a problem, affect an improvement, or produce a solution
What does a BA use to help formulate ideas about how to structure elicitation activities?
Elicitation Plan
True or False: the Elicitation Plan is formal
False, it's informal and can be quick to create
What are the two things a BA needs to think about when forming their elicitation plan?
How best to coordinate, and how to conduct elicitation across a project
What are some considerations when creating an elicitation plan?
What information to elicit, where to find the information, how to obtain it, and sequencing elicitation activities
What are some sources of information?
Individuals, Models, other document references
True or False: it's a good practice to try to identify at least two sources for each topic during elicitation
True. This helps avoid proposing a requirement or solution based on the opinion of a single source
What is a formal elicitation method?
One that is planned and structured
What is an informal elicitation method?
One that is typically unplanned and/or unstructured
True or False: dependencies may constrain the timing of elicitation activities
True; some information is necessary before other information can be understood
What are the steps used to prepare for elicitation?
- Determine the objectives- Determine the participants- Determine the Questions for the Session
The __ is the reason why the elicitation activity is being undertaken
Objective
Each elicitation session should provide some __ to justify the time it takes to obtain the information
Value
The results of __ __ can be used when selecting participants to invite to an elicitation session
Stakeholder Analysis
True or False: it may be appropriate to limit elicitation time with executives
True, as compared to other end users. Schedule as appropriate for each stakeholder group
For which elicitation techniques would the BA probably want to prepare questions for in advance of the activity?
Interviews, focus groups, facilitated workshops, or other techniques used to elicit information directly from stakeholders
True or False: questions that move a session toward achieving the desired result should be avoid
ed
What practice helps groups make process in early elicitation sessions?
Starting with easy, non-threatening questions first, and saving challenging questions until the end
Introduction, Body, Close, and Follow-up describes the steps of what process?
Conducting Elicitation Activities
What is the introduction portion of elicitation activities meant to do?
Frame the session, set the tone, and build rapport with the participants
How is the introduction performed in elicitation activities?
By stating the problem and providing an overview of the session objectives
Framing up an introduction is a __ __ that causes participants to focus on the subject at hand
Cognitive technique
What is a "parking lot"?
A tool used to minimize sidetracking, derailing, or hijacking of the meeting by participants
In which portion of an elicitation session do a BA's soft skills come into play?
Body. This is the portion in which the BA elicits the primary information and achieves the objectives of the session
True or False: All questions for elicitation should be planned
False. The BA should have the ability to probe and dig further into details and adjust the direction of questions based on responses
Questions that allow respondents to answer questions in any way they desire are what?
Open-ended
Questions that call for a response from a limited list of answer choices are what?
Closed-ended
What are the three types of closed-ended questions?
Force choice, limited choice, confirmation
Questions that require an answer regarding the subject at hand are what?
Contextual
Questions that may be asked in any situation are what?
Context-free
True or False: Context-free questions can be used as lead-ins to obtain information to define the solution
TRUE
True or False: There is one right question that will provide the exact information that will generate the correct solution
False. In many cases, information that leads to the perfect solution arrives in pieces from many questions and many participants' responses
__ __ is the act of listening completely with all senses
Active Listening
Active listening involves suspending all __ about what is being heard so that information flows freely
Judgment
What is one of the goals of active listening?
To clear up discrepancies without raising the possibility of conflict
What is the purpose of the closing step of elicitation activities?
To wrap up the activity and focus on next steps, and thank participants for their time
What may result after the closing of an elicitation session?
As the BA analyzes the information, new questions may arise, ambiguities and contradictions surface, and previously clarity may return to vagueness
True or False: Questions that arise during an elicitation session may become materials to help structure the objectives for follow-up sessions
TRUE
What is the follow-up step of elicitation for?
To update any notes and obtain confirmation from participants on the information obtained.
What types of techniques should then BA used to lead elicitation participants through validate information for accuracy and completeness?
Collaboration
What are some benefits of providing an elicitation results summary?
- Opportunity to fully analyze the information received- Allows time to verify and clarify notes taken during the session- Uncovers any questions that should have been asked- REinforces to participants that their information is valuable- Gives participants a chance to respond to the summarization- Provides the opportunity get corrections or clarifications
What are the most common elicitation techniques used?
Brainstorming, document analysis, facilitated workshops, focus groups, interviews, observation, prototyping, questionnaires/surveys
True or False: brainstorming with a group will created greater output than by individually interviewing the same people
True, the output is often greater using this technique
What are some benefits of the document analysis technique in elicitation?
- Documented information tends to be more objective and information received from individuals- Documents may contain informatoin that no one person has- Provides more background and explanations than someone explaning the materials- Current documentation can be a good source of infromation regarding structures and capabilities of any product
What are the downsides of document analysis?
- Documents may not exist or be available- They may be out of date and provide erroneous information- There's a risk that previous system constraints or limitations will be documented as current business practices
What is another name for a Requirements Workshop?
Facilitated Workshop
A focused session that brings key cross-functional stakeholders together to define product requirements describes what technique
Requirements or Facilitated Workshop
Workshops are considered a primary technique for quickly defining __-__ ___ and reconciling stakeholder differences
Cross-functional Requirements
What can a well-facilitated workshop do?
Build trust, foster relationships, and improve communication among participants, leading to increased stakeholder consensus
True or False: workshops are expensive to run
True. They can be, considering the number of individuals involved and the time commitments required
What are the roles that would be important to have during a facilitated workshop?
Facilitator, Scribe, Participants, Workshop Owner
Focus groups bring together prequalified stakeholders and SMEs to learn about their __ and __ about a proposed product, service, or result
Expectation and Attitudes
True or False: focus group participants don't need to be prequalified
False. They do need to be prequalified to ensure they meet the desired or targeted representation
What technique allows participants to share ideas and build off of the feedback that is being shared among the group
Focus Groups
What types of things should a BA watch for from focus group participants?
Reactions, facial expressions, body language (in addition to the information being provided)
True or False: Focus groups are a suitable method for eliciting information about a problem domain
False.
Interviews works best under what conditions?
- Individuals are able to provide information on a variety of topics- Confidential or sensitive information needs to be discussed- Information needs to be acquired from an upper-level manager- the BA needs to probe deeply and needs unfettered access to the SME
An interview that begins with a list of prepared questions is what?
Structured
An interview that begins with a list of questions but naturally flows based on responses is what?
Unstructured
What is a synchronous interview?
One that is performed live or in real time
What is an asynchronous interview?
One not conducted in real time
What are some advantages of interviewing in person?
- Undivided attention of the interviewee- Ability to view body language and facial expressions- more comfortable setting for the interviewee
What are some disadvantages associated with virtual interviews?
- Multi-tasking resulting in lost information- Participants calling in from other locations & distractions- Lack of experience of interviewer & interviewee participating in virtual meetings- Equipment failure or poor performance of collaboration tools
When is observation a good choice for elicitation?
When the people have difficulty or are reluctant to articulate their requirements
What is another term for observation?
Job shadowing
What is a primary benefit of observation?
It can result in the transfer of a greater amount of unbiased, objective, real information about the problem domain than other forms of elicitation
What are the four types of observation?
Passive, Active, Participatory, Simulation
What is the main drawback of observation?
People act differently when they are being observed
From whom should validation be obtained from the results of observation?
The person who was being observed
What elicitation technique is tangible, and stakeholders are able to experiment and model with?
Prototyping
What is a drawback of prototyping?
It may not uncover all of the attributes or aspects of a complex solution
What is the key element to prototyping?
The iterative process of creating it, reviewing with stakeholders, making adjustments, and reviewing it again
What are the two types of prototypes?
Low-fidelity, high-fidelity
Wireframes, floor plans, and sketches are examples of what type of prototype?
Low-fidelity
What type of prototype is a representation of the final finished product that usable by the stakeholders?
High-fidelity
What are the type types of high-fidelity prototypes?
Evolutionary and Throw-away
Which type of high-fidelity prototype is discarded once the interface has been confirmed?
Throwaway
Which type of high-fidelity prototype is the actual finished product in process?
Evolutionary
What is storyboarding?
A prototyping technique showing sequence or navigation through a series of images
What is a wireframe?
A diagram representing a static blueprint or schematic of a user interface used to identify basic functionality
What elicitation technique would be appropriate to use when needing feedback from a large number of respondents representing a diverse population, and often dispersed over a wide geographical area?
Questionnaires/Surveys
What are the drawbacks of surveys?
- No opportunity for clarifications- Questions are often closed-ended- Response rate may not be significant enough to serve as a representative sample
What are some approaches to reducing risks with surveys?
- Determine the number of responses required- Analyze for skewed information upon survey completion- Share information with why it's important- Send out reminders to encourage and promote participation- Ask a manager to champion the effort to emphasize its importance
What is the primary result set from elicitation activities?
A set of notes comprise of a wealth of information for performing other business analysis tasks
Sketches, diagrams, models, flipcharts, sticky notes, or index cards are all outcomes of what?
Elicitation Activities
What is a typical business analysis quandary?
Determining when the elicitation stops and the analysis starts and for how long the work continues
When is elicitation and analysis complete?
When no further questions exist and the information is reduced down to a depiction of the solution to the business problem or wen the risk of problems emerging from the lack of complete information is considered to be acceptable
When does analysis occur in an adaptive project?
Through the project as part of defining the initial backlog, grooming the backlog, and analyzing details for each iteration
What are some signs that sufficient information has been elicited?
- Stakeholder approves the results- A dry run or successful prototype is completed- Objective has been reached- Solution has been identified- It takes longer to get answers out of some stakeholders
What are some common challenges with elicitation?
- Conflicting viewpoints and needs among different types of users- Conflicting information and resulting requirements from different business units- Unstated or assumed information- Stakeholders who are resistant to change and won't cooperate- Inability to schedule time because stakeholders can't get away from their work- Inability of stakeholders to express what they do or whey would like to do- Inability of stakeholders to refrain from focusing on a solution
What can a BA do when they cannot gain access to the right stakeholders?
Focus on the information, not the individual
Which project approach would be appropriate when stakeholders do not know what they want?
Adaptive, since it's preferred when there are changing customer needs or when stakeholders need to visualize the solution to further define requirements
How can a BA help stakeholders who are focused on the solution during elicitation?
Ask the stakeholders for help understanding the problem domain and focus their attention on the problem or opportunity
What is the best way to elicit when stakeholders are not providing sufficient detail?
Try using visual modeling techniques
What is the process of examining, breaking down, and synthesizing information to further understand it, complete it, and improve it?
Analysis
What is analysis used to do?
Provide structure to the requirements and related information
What should a BA think about when planning for analysis?
What techniques may be used, and when they should be used
True or False: the BA should be proficient in all of the analysis techniques
False. It is not likely that the BA will be proficient in every technique
Plans for analysis should be based on what?
Known Information
Which types of models would be best to help establish boundaries?
Visual
True or False: Elicitation and analysis are usually iterative
True. Analysis frequently provokes relevant and important questions, requiring more elicitation
What is the definition of a model?
A visual representation of information, both abstract and specific, that operates under a set of guidelines in order to efficiently arrange and convey a lot of information in a concise manner.
Diagrams, tables, or structure text are examples of what?
Models
What are some examples of things that can be modeled in business analysis?
Business objectives, requirements, business rules, design
Business models are helpful to identify what?
Gaps and extraneous information
Models provide __ to better understand and more clearly convey information
Context
True or False: Models help analysis become simple
True, relative to analyzing the information in pure text form
What are the categories of models?
Scope, process, rule, data, interface
What type of model that shows the structure and organization of features, functions, and boundaries of the business domain?
Scope models
What type of model describes business processes and ways in which stakeholders interact with those processes
Process models
Whyat type of model includes concepts and behaviors that define or constrain aspects of a business in order to enforce established business policies?
Rule models
What type of models document the data used in a process or system and its lifecycle?
Data models
What type of model assists in understanding specific systems and their relationships within a solution?
Interface models
What are some examples of scope models?
Context diagrams, ecosystem maps, feature models, org charts, decomposition
What are some examples of process models?
Process flow, use case, user story
What are some examples of rule models?
Business rules catalog, decision tree, decision table
What are some examples of data models?
ERD, data flow diagram, data dictionary, state table, state diagram
What are some examples of interface models?
Report table, system interface table, user interface flow, wireframes, display-action-response
True or False: it is unlikely that all models will be used on one project
False, but for most projects, more than one type of model will be used
True or False: choosing a tool for modeling is not difficult because there is only one correct choice
False. It's actually difficult because often there are multiple valid choices
What are some considerations when choosing a modeling technique?
Methodology, project characteristics, timing within the lifecycle, categories or models, level of abstraction
What project characteristics should be considered when choosing modeling techniques/
Business process, automation, custom development, COTS, cloud or Saas, data migration, workflow, mobile, hardware, software, number of users, analytics, reporting
True or False: all categories of models should be considered on every project
True. Models should be considered from all modeling categories
Which type of project would likely use data models, including a data dictionary and report tables?
Analytics Projects
True or False: if the project is agile, use cases will likely be used
False. User stories would be prefered over use cases in agile
Context diagrams, ecosystem maps, and high-level process flows are more likely to be completed when?
Early on in the project
State models, decision models, and user interface models would more likely be created when?
Later on in the project
Why is it helpful to use more than one model?
Multiple models complement one another and enable analysis of the project from different perspectives
What will cross-checking models against each other help find?
Gaps, unnecessary information, and potentially missing requirements
Business analysts use models to determine what is __ and __ so that the right requirements are created
Important and valuable
What does BPMN stand for?
Business process modeling notation
What does RML stand for?
Requirements modeling language
What does SysML stand for?
System modeling language
What does UML stand for?
Unified modeling language
True or False: it's important to use a specific modeling standard
False. What's important is that consistent syntax is used each time to avoid confusion
Which types of models visually represent the value that supports feature prioritization and product scope management?
Goal models and business objective models
Which model can be used to justify budgets and reveal to executives exactly what they are receiving from a project?
Business Objectives Model
True or False: ecosystem maps match the architecture diagram of physical systems
False. They show the relevant systems, relationships between them,and any data objects passed between them
What are ecosystem maps used to understand?
All systems that may be affected by or that will impact the in-scope systems
Which modeling technique can help uncover possible interface or data requirements?
Ecosystem map
How is an ecosystem map different from a context diagram?
Ecosystem diagrams may include interfaces and systems that the solution under analysis does not directly interact with
What needs to accompany an ecosystem map?
System interface tables
Which data model shows all of the direct system and human interfaces to systems within a solution?
Context diagram
True or False: Context diagrams can be considered the highest level of a data flow diagram
True. They are sometimes referred to as Level 0 of a data flow diagram
What are some things context diagrams are useful for?
- To specify the scope of the project, including interfaces- To determine where there could be interface or data requirements
True or False: Context diagrams are easy to build and understand
True, and they can also be used to document as-is and to-be states to assist with gap analysis
True or False: Context diagrams do not specify requirements
True, but they do summarize the product scope and related information that are analyzed to identify requirements
Which model visually represents all of the feature of a solution arranged in tree or hierarchical structure?
Feature Model
How many levels will a feature model typically have?
Three or fewer
How are feature models helpful?
To show how features are grouped together and which features are subfeatures of other ones
What is a main benefit of feature models?
The can display hundreds of features across different levels on a single page, representing an entire solution's feature set
Which model shows all of the in-scope use cases for a system?
Use Case Diagram
What are some other names for process models?
Swimlane diagrams, process maps, process diagrams, process flow charts
Which types of models depict the tasks that people perform in their jobs?
Process Models
What do process models depict?
The steps that a person or system takes to go through a process
True or False: when process modeling, it's best to only show people OR systems (not both)
True, in order to reduce context shifting for the reader
What are process flows used to discover during analysis?
Missing features or requirements
True or False: Process modeling can be done during either elicitation or analysis
TRUE
Which model describes a set of scenarios?
Use Case
True or False: Use cases represent both functional and nonfunctional aspects of a system
False. Use cases only represent the functional aspects, and do not include non-functional requirements
True or False: Non-functional requirements generally apply to an entire system
True, therefore, it may make sense for those requirements to be separately documented
True or False: in a use case, a single stakeholder may be represented by only one role
False. One stakeholder may be represented by multiple roles, mirroring the roles the stakeholder plays in the business
True or False: in a use case, many stakeholders may be represented by a single role
TRUE
Which model would be a good choice when there are complex back and forth interactions between users and systems?
Use Cases
True or False: a Use Case Diagram is required when using use cases
False, but it is a quick way to visually depict which actors are associated with multiple use cases and what the full scope of a use case is
True or False: Use cases are standalone requirements
False, they help identify functional and nonfunctional requirements
True or False: User stories may only be used on adaptive projects
False. Though this is more typical, user stories may be used under any methodology
Which modeling technique provides a small, discrete piece of business value or function?
User Stories
What does the INVEST acronym stand for?
Independent, negotiable, valuable, estimable, small, testable
What accompanies a user story to confirm that the story is completed and working as expected?
Acceptance criteria
What is a story called when it is too large to be completed in a single iteration?
An epic
When should user stories be elaborated?
When they get closer to to the top of the backlog
What is the name of the process in which user stories are elaborated using relevant modeling techniques to generate enough details for development to occur?
Backlog grooming
At which point in an agile project should acceptance criteria be added to a user story?
During backlog grooming
True or False: a user story contains many requirements
True. It is a functional grouping of requirements.
What do rule models do?
Help identify and document the business rules, business policies, and decision frameworks that need to be supported by the solution
What are business rules?
Constraints about how the organization wants to operate
How are business rules enforced?
By data and/or processes
What is the objective when analyzing business rules?
To identify what should or should not be allowed in a business enterprise
What is a key element of business rules analysis?
The absence of technology
A table of business rules and related attributes describes what modeling technique?
Business Rules Catalog
What attributes might be captured for a business rules catalog?
Unique ID, description, type of rule, and references to other documents
True or False: business rules are specific to one project
False. They are typically maintained at a higher level because they apply to the entire business, not just one project
What do decision trees and tables depict?
A series of decisions and the outcomes they lead to
What types of models are typically used to model business rules?
Decision trees and tables
Decision trees work best with __ choices
Binary (i.e. yes or no)
Which type of decision model would more likely be used when there are many choices and analysis is becoming complex?
Decision tables
What does each branch in a decision tree represent?
A different choice or option
What do the leaves of a decision tree represent?
The outcomes for a decision
Decision trees may be drawn __ or __
Horizontally or vertically
What are the four areas of a decision table?
Condition stub, conditions, action stub, actions
At what point during analysis would a business analyst consider using decision trees or tables?
When uncovering a series of "if this, then that" statements
What are decision tables useful to ensure?
That all possible combinations of decision choices are considered
What does a data model depict?
The data used in a process or system and its lifecycle
What are data models typically used for?
Identifying relationships between data, to show how data is related to processes, and to further help extract requirements related to business rules
The data model that shows the business data objects or piece of information of interest in a project, and the cardinality relationships between those objects is what type?
Entity Relationship Diagram
True or False: in an ERD, business data objects refer to exact data objects in a database
False. they are conceptual pieces of data that the business thinks and cares about representing people, places, things and concepts
What is multiplicity in an ERD?
An indication on the relationship line to show the number of times that one entity occurs in relationship to the other entity, and whether the relationship is required or optional
What type of project is the ERD a cornerstone of?
Projects that have data management components
What data model shows the relationships between systems, actors, and the data that is exchanged and manipulated over the course of one or many processes?
Data Flow Diagrams
Data models are a good tool for what?
Helping stakeholders and developers understand how data flows through the systems, which leads to identifying specific data requirements
What data model is tabular in format and shows data fields and attributes of those fields?
Data dictionary
What are some common attributes of data models?
Name, description, size, and validation rules
True or False: the information captured in a data dictionary explicitly reflects the database design
False, it does not, but database designers use data dictionaries as an input to their database architecture
True or False: Data dictionaries can stand alone and do not need redundant requirement statements
TRUE
What models show the valid states of an object and any allowed transitions between those states?
State tables and diagrams
Which model is tabular in format with all of the valid states in the first column and across the first row?
State table
True or False: state diagrams and state tables show exactly the same information
True, but it is easier to visualize the valid states and transitions by showing only the allowed transitions
What are state tables useful to ensure?
That state transitions are not missed
True or False: it is more difficult to ensure a state diagram is complete than a state table
True, but it's much easier to quickly visualize the life cycle of an object
True or False: State tables and diagrams are stand-alone models
True. They do not require additional requirement statements to be developed and tested correctly
State diagrams and tables are often used to model what?
Business Rules
Which type of models depict the relationships within a solution to gain an understanding of interfaces and their details?
Interface models
Which model captures the detailed level requirements of a single report?
Report Table
Report attributes should be specified alongside what?
A prototype or example of the actual report
What are a few common attributes you might find on a report table?
Functional area, report owner, trigger, frequency, security
Why is it important to include an example report with a report table?
It provides context for the data in the report table
What does the business analyst need to define on a report table if there are multiple data sources?
The system of record
Which model captures the attributes of all detail-level requirements for a single interface?
System Interface Table
Source system, target system, data volume, and security are common attributes of what model?
Source system, target system, data volume, and security
True or False: System interface tables typically include either source or target systems
False. It's more typical to find both source and targets on the same model, but they could be separated
What model shows the flow between pages or screens within a functional design and plots how to navigate between them with various triggers?
User Interface Flow
How can user interface flows be used during elicitation?
To determine more details about the functions that takes the users between screens
Which model is used in conjunction with wireframes?
Display-action-response
What do display-action-response models identify?
Page elements and the functions (if any) that they are attached to
True or False: wireframes and display-action-response models are not the responsibility of the BA
False. While this work may sometimes be performed by UX or human factor analysts, business analysts are often asked to perform this function
What are the general principles of human-machine interface?
Compatibility, consistency, memory, structure, feedback, workload, individualization
When is the display-action response model typically used?
When precision is needed for detailing the display and interactions in a user interface
What is a benefit of wireframes and display-action-response models?
The model places the individual requirements statements in the context of the elements on the screen
What are the considerations for choosing how to document the requirements after analysis?
The project needs, the organization, and the project life cycle being used
When packaged together, what do documented requirements provide?
A defined solution scope to the business problem or opportunity
Why does the BA prepare a requirements package?
So that the solution team understands how to develop the solution
True or False: Requirements documentation is the only technique to ensure consensus among stakeholders
False. There are many ways of achieving consensus
What are some reasons documenting requirements is important?
- Provides a baseline for validating stakeholder needs- It is the primary input to the design team, developers, and testers- Provides a foundation for reusability- Includes supporting details for contractual agreements
Which type of documentation includes the features, functions, and characteristics of the product or service?
Solution documentation
Solution documentation serves as the __ for the product the solution team is asked to build
Blueprint
When is it essential that the solution documentation be precise and detailed?
When development work is outsourced
Who is responsible for reviewing, validating, and approving solution documentation?
Business Stakeholders
When is the format of solution documentation defined?
Business Analysis Planning
What is the difference between product and project requirements?
Product requirements describe what is being built or the outcome of the project or solution to the business problem, whereas project requirements describe the constraints and necessities for successful completion of the project
True or False: the BA is responsible for both product and project requirements
False. The BA is responsible for product requirements, whereas PMs are responsible for project requirements
What does the process of requirements categorization help to do?
Expose vague, misstated, ambiguous, or otherwise poorly written requirements
Why are requirements categories defined?
To help group and structure requirements within the documentation
What are some filters for selecting requirements categories?
Scope, functional, prioritization, testability
Which document attempts to specify all circumstances, conditions, actions, reactions, results and error conditions that could possibly occur in the defined solution?
Requirements Specification
A factor that is considered true, real, or certain, without proof or demonstration is what?
An Assumption
When is the use of assumptions warranted?
- Complete information is unavailable- Project success is dependent on a future event- Assumptions are based on factors that currently exist (but may not be true in the future)
What do assumptions impose on project?
Risk
What must be identified for each assumption on a project?
Contingency (so there's a course of action should the assumption turn out to be false)
Who is responsible for managing assumptions?
Both the Business Analyst and Project Manager
What is a constraint (from a BA perspective)?
A limiting factor placed on the product or solution
What are the two levels of constraints?
Product or solution (BA) and project (PM) constraints
What is the difference between requirements and constraints?
Requirements are written in positive voice, whereas constraints are typically written in negative voice
What are some categories of solution constraints?
Geography, regulations, organizational policy, culture
Restricting access to sales information to a region the customer is location in is an example of what type of constraint?
Geography
What are some typical project constraints?
Time, Cost, Scope
What are the components of well-formatted requirements?
Condition, subject, imperative, action verb, object, business rule (optional), and outcome (optional)
What requirements characteristics can be used to ensure high-quality requirements?
Unambiguous, precise, consistent, correct, complete, measurable, feasible, traceable, testable
What does it mean when a requirement can be interpreted differently between individuals?
The requirement is ambiguous
What might result from ambiguous requirements?
The wrong solution being built
What does it mean for requirements to be precise?
They are statements of what the solution is with no more, no less.
What does it mean for requirements to be consistent?
Each should be included only one time to avoid confusing and redundancy, and should not be in conflict with any other requirements
What tool may be used to ensure requirements are consistent?
Traceability
When is not unusual for requirements to be conflicting?
When there are multiple business analysts working on the same set of requirements, but performing elicitation separately
What does it mean when each requirement accurately describes the functionality to be built
That it is correct
True or False: only the product stakeholder can confirm whether a requirement is correct
TRUE
How is correctness achieved?
Through frequent review and confirmation sessions with the sources of the information
Correctness falls into the purview of who?
The Business Community
True or False: Requirements should not be committed until confirmed by a second source
True. This is a general requirements rule
What does it mean when the requirements have enough information to complete the requirement?
That it is complete. However, requirements can be made more complete with more information, therefore completeness is not absolute
When is a requirements specification considered to be complete?
- It contains all necessary requirements- Responses are specified for all inputs and outputs- All figures, tables, and diagrams are labeled and referenced
What term should be used if something is unknown, and therefore incomplete?
TBD (to be determined)
In order to be testable, a requirement must be individually __
Measurable
What are the four types of feasibility?
Operational, Technology/System, Cost-Effectiveness, Time
With whom should the BA work to determine requirements feasibility?
Solution Development Team
How is feasibility best analyzed?
According to a variety of factors
Requirements are said to __ when then can be mapped back to the source of a requirement, and forward through to a test case
Traceable
Requirements that are __ allow for an assessment of pass/fail
Testable
True or False: stakeholders find it easy to make prioritization decisions
False, they may see all requirements as equal
What are the prioritization techniques?
MoSCoW, multi-voting, time-boxing, weighted ranking
What are some items you might find in a technical specification?
Wireframes or screen mockups, data models and schema, detail process flows
True or False: use cases can only be used as stand-alone requirements
False. They can be used in addition or instead of producing separate functional requirements specifications
When packaged together, user stories represent a __-__ version of solution requirements
High-level
Which requirements documentation type breaks down features into manageable parts and provides a simple and effective mechanism to segment a complex set of features into simple, definable elements?
User Stories
What is does it mean to validate requirements?
The process of ensuring all requirements accurately reflect the intent of the stakeholders, thereby ensuring the requirements meet their expectations
True or False: confirmation is performed once at the end of the requirements process
False. Confirmation is continual
__ requirements accurately reflect what the stakeholders are asking the solution developers to build
Valid
Asking requirements reviewers to review the requirements in advance of a walkthrough provides what benefits?
- Time for reviewers to think about it in advance, and prepare feedback- Avoidance of emotional reactions
A requirements walk-through provides stakeholders with the opportunity to do what?
Raise questions, seek clarity, voice concerns
By verifying requirements after validating, it ensures whta?
That only requirements that are considered "good" are verified
Why is requirements verification performed?
To ensure that the requirements meet the quality standards or standards of excellence for the organizations
What are the two types of verification?
Peer review, inspection
What process involves a form or informal review of requirements by a peer of a business analyst?
Peer Review
Besides the development team, which other roles might be included in a peer review of requirements?
Testers, Training developers
What includes a more rigorous form of peer review?
Inspection
True or False: Business stakeholders and management are included in an inspection session
False. They are specifically excluded
What are some items that might be included in a requirements inspection checklist?
- Are all requirements written at a consistent and appropriate level of detail?- Do the requirements provide an adequate basis for design?- Is the priority for each requirement included?- Are all interfaces defined?- Is the expected behavior documented for all anticipated error conditions?
The existence of a __ is what differentiates an inspection from a peer review
Checklist
When signatures are obtained for sign-off, which three are typically included?
Business owner, solution team recipient, business analyst
True or False: obtaining sign-off should be a routine process
True, since the requirements are confirmed to be correct, accurate, understandable, and implementable
True or False: conflicts may arise at any point in the business analysis process
True, but the business analyst mediates the situation to reach a resolution
What should be done if conflicts cannot be resolved?
The issue needs to be escalated
BAs require the soft skill of __ to bring opposing sides to consensus
Negotiation
Which technique is an information-gathering technique used as a way to reach consensus from anonymous experts on a subject?
Delphi
What is a reason the delphi decision-making technique is effective?
It reduces bias in the data and prevents any one person from having undue influence on the outcome
Delphi, multi-voting, and weighted ranking are examples of what?
Decision-making techniques used to make decisions regarding requirements conflicts