Chapter 7: Increase Your Value Seven Steps to Mastering Business Analysis (Barbara Carkenord, 2008)

 Find a starting point  Think analytically  Master effective note-taking  Master effective questioning  level of detail – optimum point Build your foundations

Manage your time  Get an understanding of the task  Prioritize – time and effort:  The rule: the critical 20%  Timeboxing ~ iterate; focus equally on parts  An agile approach

Build relationships & communication  People skills  Listening skills – overcome the barriers o filters – page 292  Writing skills – written and oral comm.  Skills to help people discover needs  Skills in conducting meetings

Learn New Analysis Techniques  Overcome Analysis Paralysis – infinite loop  Root cause analysis  Fishbone diagramming  5 Whys  Intelligent disobedience  Improve your skills

Plan your analysis  Map the project in 2x2 grid As Is To Be What What is the current state What do you want as future state How How is the current state what it is How is the future state going to happen

Plan your analysis (ctd.)  Map your project  Assess business impact  Conduct stakeholder analysis  Plan communication w/ stakeholders  Plan on deliverables  Make a task list and assign time for each