1. Identify the Risk of Not Doing BA
The solution does not “fit” the business need…

2. Determine the Business Need to Improve
Tie to business strategies, goals, objectives
Wrap your mission around your impact on the business
Establish business measures for the COE tied to overall corporate measures
Remember: Value is not templates, tools, methodology, processes and training

3. 2. Document Business Need
Define the business problem or need the BACOE will satisfy
Determine if the organization is ready for:
Strategic level center or
Tactical approach
Prepare draft:
Vision and mission
Objectives and scope
Measures of success in business terms

4. Identify one or more sponsors
3. Identify Sponsor(s)
Identify one or more sponsors
Interview the sponsors regarding the current state of projects in your
Industry
Organization
Discuss the role of BACOE in closing the gaps
Identify executive success criteria
Interview the sponsors regarding the current state of projects in the industry and in your organization with the focus on:
Strategic alignment of projects
Manageable portfolio of projects
Achieving strategies through projects
Project performance
On time
On budget
On scope
Business benefits realized

5. 4. Secure Approval
Present results to sponsor(s) for approval to staff a small planning team to finalize the COE Business Case including
Vision, mission, objectives, scope
Strategic alignment
COE model, functions, placement
Implementation approach
Measures to demonstrate COE value

6. 5. Design the COE Most likely approach based on:
Appropriate COE model
Scope considerations
Organizational alignment, positioning and maturity
Implementation approach
Cost and benefit information
Equate project performance data to a dollar figure
Calculate ROI for expected change in performance

7. BACOE Models COE support office Major program Department enterprise
Strategic
Resource
center

8. COE Functions Functions Professional Full Cycle Services Development
Governance
Standards
Practices and
methodologies
Tools
Performance metrics
Knowledge
management
Performance reporting
Continuous
improvement
Skill assessments
Education and training
Mentoring and OTJ
training
Team building
Career path:
Competitive analysis
Business architecture
Feasibility studies
Business case
Project investment
decision package
Staff augmentation:
Business program
analysis
Strategic program
resources
Portfolio management
process, support and facilitation
Benefits management
Position description
Grades
Competencies
Skill requirements
BAs and PMs
Requirement analysis
V&V specialists
Workshop facilitators

9. Organizational Alignment
Business, mission focused
Relationship to other COEs through integrated or stand alone disciplines:
Project management
Software engineering
Quality assurance
Business analysis
Golden rule of change management
Combine change efforts that affect a process
Eliminate duplication of efforts
Identify and manage complexity and interdependencies
Source: Bolles, Dennis PMP. Building business analysis Centers of Excellence. New York, NY: American Management Association. 2002

10. Placement is Critical

11. Most Likely Implementation Approach
Program Department Strategic
Phase Phase Phase 3
Functional Project-Driven Organization Organization
Strategic
COE
COE
Launch
Time
Increases Responsibility
Gains Credibility, Acquires Expertise, Builds Trust, Expands Influence

12. Quantitative Measures of Success
Project performance improvements
Time to market improvements
Project time and cost savings
Business goals met
Project benefits managed, measured, achieved
Project portfolio ROI achieved

13. Draft the Business Case
Business case elements:
Business need for the BACOE articulating strategic importance
Initial vision and concept
Mission, objectives, scope, measures of success
High-level estimate of costs, benefits and value
List of suggested members of the guidance team
Implementation approach

14. Secure Approval Prepare executive briefing
Present vision, concept definition, business case to sponsor(s) for approval to:
Conduct readiness assessments
Prepare implementation plans
Establish a guidance team
Devise a communication plan and political management strategy
Conduct a kick-off meeting and launch the COE

15. Assess Organizational Readiness
Organizational Business Analysis Maturity Assessment
Business Analyst Knowledge and Skill Assessment
BACOE Readiness

16. 1. Organizational Maturity Assessment
Purpose
Determine organizational expectations
Gauge the cultural readiness
Gather information about best practices in the organization to use as a springboard for replication
Uncover challenges, gaps and issues
Increase the organization’s readiness to improve
Method
Survey and artifact reviews
Interviews small focus group discussions 36

17. BA Capability Maturity Model
Continuous Improvement
Optimizing
(5)
Strategic Management
Quantitatively Managed
(4)
Individual BA:
Knowledge & skill assessments
Professional development plans
Organizational BA practices:
Maturity assessments
Continuous BA process & tool improvement
Requirement defect prevention
Process Management
Defined
(3)
Project Management
BA Center of Excellence
Business Architecture
Feasibility studies
Business cases
Portfolio mgt.
Resource mgt.
Benefits mgt.
Quantitative BA process mgt.
Requirement defect tracking
Managed
(2)
Ad Hoc
Requirements:
Communication
Traceability
Risk mgt.
Solution quality:
Allocation
Assessment
Verification and Validation
Defined, integrated BA:
Standards and tools
Training program
Initial
(1)
Level 1 is ad hoc and informal, and PM practices are performed in pockets across the organization.
Level 2 practices include those that bring about basic requirements management and control that are consistently applied across all projects
Level 3 practices are those that enable successful management of significant and complex requirements for high risk projects and involve more advanced practices.
Level 4 involves practices that involve strategic management practices to assure that projects are strategically aligned.
Level 5 is characterized by continuous improvement mode. Organizations measure effectiveness and put in place continuous improvements.
Requirements:
Planning
Elicitation
Analysis
Specification
Prioritization
Validation
Change Mgt.
Individual BA skills acquired on the job
Most projects do not deliver all requirements
BA practices informal
Adapted from: Management Concepts, Inc.

18. 2. BA Knowledge and Skill Assessment
Purpose
To determine the skill level of Bas
Delivers results to help determine:
Training requirements
Professional development activities, and
Specific mentoring and coaching needs
Method
Uses a survey to assess level of competencies
Accompanied by interviews and small focus groups 38

19. 3. BACOE Readiness Assessment
Compile assessment results in a formal document
Use assessment findings to:
Inform the business plan for the new COE
Assess risks and challenges
Report
Strengths
Prioritized list of opportunities for improvements
Readiness to accept and support the COE
Challenges identified in implementing the COE 19

20. Plan BACOE Implementation
Build BACOE Charter/Business Plan:
Select the appropriate organization structure and governance model
Establish COE guidelines
Manage cultural change
Manage the path to maturity
Develop and communication plan
Craft a political management plan
Present the Business Case and Charter to Guidance Team for approval