Are requirements gathered haphazardly in your organization? Are there communication gaps between users and analysts, or between analysts and developers? If so, several of these workshops, or a full Business Analysis Certificate should be considered.

Twenty days are required for the Business Analysis Certificate. Ask about credit for previous training. The cost for each workshop is $300 per day. On-sites cost less.

Each workshop in the Business Analysis Certificate Program actively engages and challenges participants. They engage in real projects and issues from their own work. Training activities include videos, interactive discussion, individual and partner exercises, role-plays, fishbowl exercises, case studies, and mini-cases.

To register for any workshop, call Telese Forbes at (508) 929-8031.

 IT Business Analysis Certificate Schedule

December 2004-June 2005

Click on any title below to go to the workshop description

Collaborative Business Analysis

4 Days

To analyze and define user requirements, analysts must go about their task in a methodical way. They must first understand their roles and responsibilities. They must understand the development lifecycle, from requirements through testing. How do they gather information about requirements? How will that information be converted into user functionality?

In this workshop, participants learn about a process to collaborate with various types of users and sponsors to clarify business needs. The process can be applied to any platform and language. The process includes data-gathering interviews, as well as surveys, process modeling, and several other techniques. The workshop also provides an overview of the subsequent sections in the IT Business Analysis Certificate Program.

Part of the IT Business Analysis Certificate Program

Requirement-Based Design

4 Days

Equipped with a business requirements document, business stakeholders depend on an analyst to translate these requirements into appropriate documents that can be used by software developers and engineers. The analyst must convert the requirements into the functionality and features required of the system, application, initiative, or enhancement. The analyst must ensure that both user and business needs are met. With a clear specification, analysts and developers are prepared for success.

In this workshop, participants increase their knowledge and skills in business analysis, modeling, and documentation. They learn how to communicate requirements and to facilitate agreement with stakeholders. They also learn to write a functional specification that clearly and completely defines the requirements in terms that are usable by developers.

Part of the IT Business Analysis Certificate Program.

Listening Skills

1 Day

How well the analyst communicates is key in determining success in both professional and personal relationships.  Communication is more than just speaking. It is listening and ensuring that what is said is understood.  “Hearing is done with your ears.  Listening is done with your ears and mind.  Hearing comes naturally, but listening does not“ (source unknown).

In this workshop, through a series of interactive activities, the participant explores the dynamics of communication by (1) Experiencing and practicing active listening, (2) discovering and overcoming barriers to effective listening, and (3) identifying behaviors to improve your own skills. Understanding different styles of communication across cultural and gender lines will also be explored, as well as non-verbal communication.    

Part of the IT Business Analysis Certificate Program.

Negotiating With, and Influencing Others

1 Day

Do you ever struggle with getting what you need from others with whom you do not have direct authority? Do you find yourself stricken with fear at the thought of negotiating with others because you feel you won’t get what you need/want or be taken advantage of? Every day we are confronted with negotiations and we all want to feel confident and prepared going into them. Come learn how to negotiate your way from confrontation to cooperation with those you work with.

In this workshop, participants will use the Getting Ready to Negotiate Workbook, which is a step-by step guide to preparing for any negotiation. The process is based upon the philosophy in the Getting to Yes book…be prepared, negotiate interests not positions, understand the other side’s interests and work together.

Part of the IT Business Analysis Certificate Program.

Problem Analysis and Resolution

2 Days

Analysts must collaborate with their clients and others to identify and analyze problems, and determine the actions necessary to resolve the problems. They need repeatable processes and techniques that are flexible and can be applied to a broad range of problems, such as business problems, elicitation problems, specification problems, validation problems and other types of problems.

In this workshop, participants learn and apply a logical process to convert symptoms into successful resolution of problems. You will identify your most prominent problem solving style, and will learn to invoke your own creativity to identify alternatives for the resolution of current problems. In addition, you will learn to collaborate with others to implement solutions, and prevent similar problems in the future.

Part of the IT Business Analysis Certificate Program.

Business Process Mapping and Optimization

2 Days

Are you unclear about how new system enhancements impact business processes? Are you aware of situations in which it takes longer than necessary to process a sales order or satisfy a customer request? Or perhaps you cannot retrieve accurate and timely information for a business application of data warehouse? These conditions may signal the need to examine and optimize business processes. The benefits include increased profitability, greater market share, and improved customer service. Additional benefits include greater return on investment and faster processing times.

In this workshop, participants learn techniques to identify opportunities for optimization, and to structure and promote business improvements. They will analyze and re-engineer business workflows based on work-related processes and case studies. They learn the stages of business process optimization: preparation, mobilization, discovery, identification, visioning, design, development, deployment, assessment, and continuous improvement.

Part of the IT Business Analysis Certificate Program.

Facilitating JAD Sessions

3 Days

Business needs and requirements do not easily translate into the functions and cases that meet these needs. A skilled facilitator must ask the right questions and manage sometimes demanding colleagues. In a successful joint application development (JAD) session, there is sufficient structure and direction to gain consensus-based software requirements, application design, process re-design, and prototype development.

In this workshop, participants prepare and participate in a simulated JAD session. They learn to work with customers/users, gather information and manage conflict. They develop a complete and focused agenda that will help them to achieve their goals in on-the-job JAD sessions.

Part of the IT Business Analysis Certificate Program.

Successful Project Management

3 Days

An organization's success depends upon the effectiveness of its plans, programs and projects. When should a project be planned? How does a project plan relate to other documentation such as the business requirement document, or design specification? Which life cycle model is most appropriate?  

In this hands-on workshop, participants increase their project planning monitoring, and control competencies,. Specific skills developed include creating and maintaining successful project teams and developing an initial project plan. All training materials are developed in conformance with the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). Automated planning tools are also discussed to enhance  productivity in planning, reporting, and monitoring progress.

Part of the IT Business Analysis Certificate Program.

Test Development for Quality Results

2 Days

To ensure quality in systems and software, business analysts must design and conduct appropriate tests at appropriate intervals. Customer needs must be met and exceeded. To ensure successful testing and customer satisfaction, business analysts must write effective test plans and specifications, including test procedures and test cases. They play a critical role in various tests, including stress tests, regression tests and other tests as required.

In this workshop, participants create test documents and checklists that guide their testing activities. They develop metrics that measure the quality of software and testing and provide management reporting.

Part of the IT Business Analysis Certificate Program.