1. Introduction and Foundation of the Certification
The field of business analysis is rich with terms, concepts, tools, techniques, and processes. This beginning section sets the foundation of key terms to know in order to prepare you for the five domain areas and forty knowledge and skills areas that are part of the exam.
The value of business analysis
Common vocabulary
Foundational elements
Business Analysis Processes
Business Analysis Process Groups
Business Analysis Knowledge Areas
Business Analysis Tailoring
2. Business Analysis Environment
The profession of business analysis is influenced by the environment and organization in which it is performed. This section focuses on the two major categories of influence, both internally and externally.
Enterprise environmental factors (EEFs)
Organizational process assets (OPAs)
3. Role of the Business Analyst
Even though business analysis has been performed for decades, there is much confusion about the role and who performs the work of business analysis. This section provides context for the role of the business analyst, background and support of the role, and the essential competencies to succeed in business analysis.
Definition of a Business Analyst
The business analysts’ influence
Key competencies for business analysts
4. Needs Assessment
The first Business Analysis Knowledge Area of the exam is where people begin their requirements process and the activities that lead to project success. Emphasis is placed on the business analysis processes used to define the business problem or opportunity and perform needs assessment. Needs assessment encompasses 18 percent of the exam. In this section we review how to effectively perform these seven business analysis processes.
Identify problem or opportunity
Assess current state
Determine future state
Determine viable options and provide recommendation
Facilitate product roadmap development
Assemble business case
Support charter development
5. Stakeholder Engagement
This Business Analysis Knowledge area focuses on identification and analysis of people who have an interest in the solution outcome. Emphasis is placed on how to collaborate and communicate with stakeholders to keep them engaged in the project, program, and/or portfolio. In this section we review how to effectively perform these seven business analysis processes.
Identify stakeholders
Conduct stakeholder analysis
Determine stakeholder engagement and communication approach
Conduct business analysis planning
Prepare for transition to future state
Manage stakeholder engagement and communication
Assess business analysis performance
6. Elicitation
This section emphasizes how a business analysis professional plans and prepares for elicitation, conducts elicitation and confirms elicitation results from the sources used to obtain information for the project, program, and/or portfolio. In this section we review how to effectively perform these four business analysis processes.
Determine elicitation approach
Prepare for elicitation
Conduct elicitation
Confirm elicitation results
7. Analysis
Analysis of the requirements involves making sense of what has been revealed during Elicitation. This Knowledge Area includes performing the following requirements activities: analyzing, decomposing, accepting, verifying, validating, prioritizing, and assessing product design options. The Analysis domain contains 35 percent of the exam (which also includes the Elicitation Knowledge Area – Section VI). In this section we’ll cover the following nine business analysis processes.
Determine analysis approach
Create and analyze models
Define and elaborate requirements
Define acceptance criteria
Verify requirements
Validate requirements
Prioritize requirements and other product information
Identify and analyze product risks
Assess product design options
8. Traceability and Monitoring
Identifying the status of requirements throughout the lifecycle of the project and communicating critical information related to requirements is an important factor for project success. This Knowledge Area is concerned about managing, examining, and sharing requirements information with the project stakeholders. Traceability and Monitoring comprises 15 percent of the exam. This Knowledge Area includes the following four business analysis processes.
Determine traceability and monitoring approach
Establish relationships and dependencies
Select and approve requirements
Manage changes to requirements and other product information
9. Solution Evaluation
The final Knowledge Area examines if the delivered solution achieves the business need and satisfies the requirements. These activities could include evaluating solution performance, acceptance results, defects, and solution acceptance. Solution Evaluation comprises 10 percent of the exam. In this section we will explore the following four business analysis processes.
Evaluate solution performance
Determine solution evaluation approach
Evaluate acceptance results and address defects
Obtain solution acceptance for release
10. Business Analyst Competencies
To effectively perform business analysis, it is critical to possess specific skills, knowledge and abilities. In this section we will examine the following six major categories of competencies.
Analytical skills
Expert judgment
Communication skills
Personal skills
Leadership skills
Tool knowledge
11. What to Expect on the Exam
Now that you know the content expectations for the exam it’s important to realize how to prepare for the exam and what to expect as you go through the application process. To ensure you successfully pass the first time, this section will cover.
The PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA®) Application
Exam requirements
Exam overview
Preparing for the exam
Understanding the questions
Taking the exam
General tips to help you through the process