CBAP and BABOK Presented to the Albany Capital District Chapter of the IIBA February 3, 2009

Mission: To develop and maintain standards for the practice of business analysis and for the certification of its practitioners Mission: To develop and maintain standards for the practice of business analysis and for the certification of its practitioners The IIBA is an international non-profit professional association for business analysis professionals The IIBA is an international non-profit professional association for business analysis professionals

March 2004 March members 37 members 2 countries (Canada & US) 2 countries (Canada & US) December 2008 December ,791 members 7,791 members 81 chapters 81 chapters 68 countries 68 countries 462 CBAP’s (Certified Business Analysis Professional) 462 CBAP’s (Certified Business Analysis Professional)

Business Analysis Business Analysis is the set of tasks, knowledge and techniques required to identify business needs and determine solutions to business problems. Business Analysis is the set of tasks, knowledge and techniques required to identify business needs and determine solutions to business problems. Solutions often include a systems development component, but may also consist of process improvement or organizational change. Solutions often include a systems development component, but may also consist of process improvement or organizational change. International Institute of Business Analysis – Body of Knowledge (BABOK)

A Business Analyst works as a liaison among stakeholders in order to elicit, analyze, communicate, and validate requirements for changes to business processes, policies, and information systems.

Business Analysis Body of Knowledge The BABOK is the collection of knowledge within the profession of Business Analysis and reflects generally accepted practice The BABOK is the collection of knowledge within the profession of Business Analysis and reflects generally accepted practice Describes business analysis areas of knowledge, their associated activities and tasks and the skills necessary to be effective in their execution Describes business analysis areas of knowledge, their associated activities and tasks and the skills necessary to be effective in their execution Provides the basis for the CBAP certification Provides the basis for the CBAP certification

CBAP Certification Qualified practitioners will receive the designation – Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) Qualified practitioners will receive the designation – Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)  This certification is designed for individuals with an advanced level of knowledge and experience  The IIBA is considering a secondary certification to meet the needs of less senior Business Analysts  Membership in the IIBA is not required to take the certification examination

CBAP A recognized expert in identifying the business needs of an organization in order to determine business solutions A recognized expert in identifying the business needs of an organization in order to determine business solutions CBAPs are acknowledged as competent individuals performing a role which is increasingly recognized as a vital component of any successful project CBAPs are acknowledged as competent individuals performing a role which is increasingly recognized as a vital component of any successful project

Benefits of CBAP Certification Validation of skills and capabilities by a recognized external authority Validation of skills and capabilities by a recognized external authority Recognition by peers and management as qualified and experienced to practice business analysis Recognition by peers and management as qualified and experienced to practice business analysis Confirmation of competence in the principles and practices of business analysis Confirmation of competence in the principles and practices of business analysis Advanced career potential by creating a separate and distinct career path within the information technology industry and business community Advanced career potential by creating a separate and distinct career path within the information technology industry and business community

Certification Requirements  5 years (7,500 hours) of business analysis work in the last 10 years  Demonstrated experience and expertise in at least 4 of the 6 BABOK Knowledge Areas  Minimum high school diploma or equivalent  21 hours of BA professional development in the last 4 years  2 professional references

Work Experience Acceptable activities include: Acceptable activities include:  Hands-on business analysis activities (as per BABOK)  Coaching or mentoring Business Analysts with respect to business analysis activities  Development of an organization’s business analysis methodology and/or best practices  Development of business analysis training courses

Work Experience Activities that will not apply include: Activities that will not apply include:  Non-supervisory management of business analysis activities (e.g., resource management, status reporting, performance management, etc.)  Teaching business analysis training courses  Selling requirements tools/software  Project Management  Testing  Programming

Knowledge Areas Enterprise Analysis Enterprise Analysis Requirements Planning and Management Requirements Planning and Management Requirements Elicitation Requirements Elicitation Requirements Analysis and Documentation Requirements Analysis and Documentation Requirements Communication Requirements Communication Solution Assessment and Validation Solution Assessment and Validation

Professional Development Directly related to business analysis or its underlying fundamentals Directly related to business analysis or its underlying fundamentals IIBA endorsed education provider courses qualify – note if EEP course IIBA endorsed education provider courses qualify – note if EEP course IIBA will review course outline to determine if other courses qualify IIBA will review course outline to determine if other courses qualify Project management, programming, or testing courses will not qualify Project management, programming, or testing courses will not qualify

References Must be provided by a: Must be provided by a:  Career Manager (person who is responsible for your annual performance review)  Internal or external client  Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

The Certification Process Submit application including: Submit application including:  Application form and application fee  References  Code of Conduct form  Examination fee (due at least 60 days prior to exam date) IIBA reviews to determine if requirements are met – notifies via within 30 days IIBA reviews to determine if requirements are met – notifies via within 30 days

Register for Exam Approved applicant has one year to successfully pass the exam Approved applicant has one year to successfully pass the exam Within a month of approval, from Castle Worldwide with user ID and password to register online for a test center and test date Within a month of approval, from Castle Worldwide with user ID and password to register online for a test center and test date If exam is passed – granted CBAP certification If exam is passed – granted CBAP certification If exam is not passed – may retake the exam once after three month wait if still within one year eligibility If exam is not passed – may retake the exam once after three month wait if still within one year eligibility

Current CBAP Exam Blueprint Knowledge Area Percent of Questions Enterprise Analysis 22.0% Requirements Planning and Management 22.7% Requirements Elicitation 18.7% Requirements Analysis and Documentation 20.7% Requirements Communication 10.7% Solution Assessment and Validation 5.2%

Certification Fees Initial fees Initial fees  $125 application fee that is non-refundable  $325 exam fee for IIBA members  $450 exam fee for non-members Rewrite fees Rewrite fees  $250 for IIBA members  $375 for non-members

Recertification Recertification is required every 3 years Recertification is required every 3 years Require 60 Continuing Development Units (CDUs) to recertify Require 60 Continuing Development Units (CDUs) to recertify Renewal fee - $85 for IIBA members and $120 for non-members Renewal fee - $85 for IIBA members and $120 for non-members

Latest Developments IIBA is piloting an online application process which includes payment of the application fee - plans are to launch the process in March IIBA is piloting an online application process which includes payment of the application fee - plans are to launch the process in March BABOK v2 expected to be released in March BABOK v2 expected to be released in March Plans are to begin working on the next version of the CBAP exam in March or April 2009 Plans are to begin working on the next version of the CBAP exam in March or April 2009 New Career Center on IIBA website for job seekers and employers New Career Center on IIBA website for job seekers and employers

BABOK v2 Knowledge Areas Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring EnterpriseAnalysisElicitationRequirementsAnalysisSolutionAssessment & Validation Requirements Management and Communication Underlying Competencies

BABOK Identifies currently accepted practices Identifies currently accepted practices Recognizes business analysis is not synonymous with software requirements Recognizes business analysis is not synonymous with software requirements Defined and enhanced by the professionals who apply it Defined and enhanced by the professionals who apply it Captures the sum of the knowledge required for the practice of business analysis as a profession Captures the sum of the knowledge required for the practice of business analysis as a profession

What the BABOK is NOT It is NOT a methodology nor does it prescribe or favor a methodology It is NOT a methodology nor does it prescribe or favor a methodology It is NOT a “how to” business analysis instruction manual It is NOT a “how to” business analysis instruction manual

Tasks Applicable to all business analysis efforts Applicable to all business analysis efforts  “Necessary” components of business analysis  May be executed as often as necessary  Consistently defined inputs and outputs

Techniques Cover different methodologies or approaches Cover different methodologies or approaches  BPM (business process management), Agile, Iterative, waterfall, etc.  Usage depends on the purpose  Understand when techniques are appropriate

Example Task & Techniques Task: Conduct Elicitation Activity Task: Conduct Elicitation Activity Techniques: Techniques:  Brainstorming  Requirements Workshop  Interview  Prototyping  Etc.

Future Plans Publication of BABOK v2 Publication of BABOK v2  Release of electronic copy in late March 2009  Free for IIBA members, nonmembers will be charged  IIBA is investigating print options Future editions – expected every five years Future editions – expected every five years

Knowledge Sharing Suman Akula has successfully completed his application to sit for the CBAP exam and is willing to answer questions about his experience Suman Akula has successfully completed his application to sit for the CBAP exam and is willing to answer questions about his experience Is there anyone else here who has completed or is in the process of applying to take the exam? Is there anyone else here who has completed or is in the process of applying to take the exam?