The Business Analysis Framework
Wendy Waker Stand 138
Why do we still have these sort of problems with Change Projects.
The average project exceeds its planned schedule by 120%
52.7% of projects will cost 189% of their original estimate
Only 16.2% of projects will be completed on time & on budget 30% of projects are cancelled before completion
*Source: Calculating your return on investment from more effective requirements management IBM article Dec 2003
Reasons for problems with change projects The Standish Group Chaos Report (1994)
365 executive managers 8,380 applications all major industry segments including: banking, retail and wholesale.
Some of the contents of this slide were taken from [Link]
Business Analysis mitigates the top 6 reasons for project failure
Incomplete requirements Lack of user involvement Unrealistic expectations
Measure of success for Business Analysts! Target: Zero.
BAs scope a project including who is impacted and therefore who needs to be engaged
Poorly defined? Open to misinterpretation? Blame the BA!
Lack of senior exec support
Changing requirements
If the project objectives dont matter to the exec, they wont support BA must ensure the exec define SMART measures and targets SMART the T is To-Die-For!
Measure of success for Business Analysts! Target: minimise. At least the analysis should be planned properly!
Lack of planning
Business Analysis the analytics engine of your projects
Business Analysis Proverbs
Delivery is not the best time to analyse requirements
Urban Wisdom
A factor present in every successful project and absent in every unsuccessful project is sufficient attention to requirements. Suzanne & James Robertson Requirements-Led Project Management
What is sufficient attention to requirements? (I)
Average actual effort spent on each stage of the development cycle*
70 60 50
40
30 20
10
0
Requirements Analysis
Design
Code/test
*based on a study by Staffordshire University
What is sufficient attention to requirements? (II)
Average Proportion of Errors Built in During Development*
90 80
70
60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Requirements Analysis
Design
*based on a study by James Martin
Code/test
What is sufficient attention to requirements? (III)
Relative Cost of Correcting Requirements Errors*
*sourced from Barry Boehm
How Much Poor Analysis can Cost*
Half of all bugs can be traced to requirement errors fixing these errors consumes 75% of project rework costs
Maybe thats why: The average project exceeds its planned schedule by 120% 52.7% of projects will cost 189% of their original estimate Only 16.2% of projects will be completed on time & on budget 30% of projects are cancelled before completion
*Source: Calculating your return on investment from more effective requirements management IBM article Dec 2003
The typical project expends least effort on change requirements analysis which is where most errors originate and whose errors cost most to fix!
So projects are all doomed?
The tool for discovering new knowledge is the Scientific Method Construction of theories
Observation and experimentation of isolated facts and results Creating generalised hypotheses Testing hypotheses through observation and experimentation
Methods and approach vary by discipline
Physics Vs Psychology
The top level process remains the same
The tool for defining change requirements is...? There are many methods and approaches all for defining change requirements
Definition of terms for Business Analysis
Business: why Business? should it be Change Requirements??? Analysis: the process of breaking a concept down into more simple parts, so that its logical structure is displayed (OED)
So how do you do analysis?
You can pay your money and take your pick of the various methods & approaches Our Training Taster Day gives examples of documentation for
Problems/opportunity analysis Objectives analysis Requirements Analysis
but how is not the issue, proving that the analytical products deliver project objectives is
Chain Of Reasoning:
Stakeholders
Drivers
Drivers
Drivers
Drivers
Objectives
Objectives Objectives Objectives Objectives
Change Requirements
Change Requirements
Change Requirements
Change Requirements
Change Requirements
Change Requirements must be assumed to be wrong until they are proved to be right
Scope of analysis of change requirements
Change requirements can be for
Processes Organisation units Locations Data Applications Technologies Non-functionals oh and the valid intersections!!!
All the Links in the Chain Of Reasoning
The problems / opportunities that the business face
Driver
Addressed as measured by
The measures and targets that will enable us to declare the change project has been successful
Project Objective
Delivered by
Definitions of what changes are required that will affect the measures of success (objectives) sufficiently for the project to be declared successful
Project Requirement
Enforces
Change requirements Rule
What rules must be implemented by the changes specified in the Business requirements
How to forge links in the Chain Of Reasoning
Problem / opportunity analysis
Driver
Addressed as measured by
SMART objectives
Project Objective
Delivered by
Specific there is a precise definition of the objective Measurable there are units that the objective will be measured in Achievable the measures can be achieved in the real world Relevant this project will actually affect this objective To-die-for the project has failed if it does not achieve the objective
Business Functional Non-functional
Project Requirement
Enforces
high level mid level
Change requirements
low level
Process model Process specification Non-functional specifications Data model Attribute specification
Business Rule
If
If you can map all your analysis to components in the Chain of Reasoning If there are no gaps AND no breaks in the chain If those who can kill your project agree with your analysis Then your analysis is correct and whats more you are a Business Analyst my (per)son.
Sorry Rudyard!
The secrets of doing Business Analysis
1. Agree the analysis method and approach (if any!) you will use 2. Get some trained Business Analysts 3. Plan how, when and who to do the
analysis 4. Do the analysis 5. Use the analysis products to develop and
implement the solutions 6. Er thats it.
So Business Analysis is needed what next?
There are a number of steps to take to establish an operational Business Analysis function:
Design the B.A. Function
Recruit the B.A. Function
Train the B.A. Function
Equip the B.A. Function
Mentor and Support the B.A. Function
How can BA Solutions help?
Design B.A. Function
Design of the Business Analysis function
Terms of reference Business Analyst Profile
Recruitment of permanent and contract analysts
Recruit B.A. Function
Train B.A. Function
Source candidates internally and externally Qualify CVs Interview conduct them or just assist with them Assessment centres Manage contracted analysts placed by BAS Training courses for analysts Training needs analysis Fundamentals of Business Analysis Process Modeling Data Modeling ISEB accreditation Introduction to Testing BPMN Essential soft Skills for Business Analysts including Workshop Facilitation & Conflict resolution Taster Day training an intensive 1 day introduction to Business Analysis Refresher day training based around your projects
and we can bespoke solutions for individual clients
Equip B.A. Function
CASE tool recommendation - independent
Assessment of requirements Recommendations and benefits assessment
Mentor and Support BA Function
Mentor and Support for analysts
Phone and email post training Refresher training Facilitated workshops Mentoring Q/A reviews of analysis deliverables
try before you buy: BA Solutions Training Taster Day!
Who Are Business Analyst Solutions?
BA Solutions are highly experienced Business Analysts We have extensive practical experience in a wide range of industry sectors including retail, banking, utilities, software houses We have worked in IT departments and within Businesses at every level from Majority Shareholder/Owner to Managing Director to shop floor workers
and what is the Business Analyst Solutions vision?
To support the whole Business Analyst life cycle and provide whatever services clients need in order to set up and run an effective Business Analyst function.
Why choose Business Analyst Solutions?
Training material development and training delivery is all done by highly experienced and active Business Analysts We are a niche supplier for all things related to Business Analysis and provide support end-to-end, not just training We have a track record of high customer satisfaction (92% average) and references are available We have worked in all major industry segments We are adaptive to client requirements bespoking solutions as required We know the value of doing effective Business Analysis We care! We care about Business Analysis and do whatever we can do to get it being done effectively.
Come and see us on Stand 138
If you would like to discuss anything further:
mail: phone: web:
Guy@[Link] 07793 231428 [Link]
