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Business analysis techniques

Often there are several different methods a business analyst could use to complete a task. Each method for completing a task is called a technique.

Techniques also provide information about the different forms that a task's output might take. For example, some techniques might produce outputs in a form that the business analyst will use to deliver information to stakeholders, such as a status report or a process checklist.

Techniques affect the performance of tasks. For a method to be a technique, it has to be related to at least one task. Some tasks have several related techniques, from which the business analyst chooses the technique that best suits the situation.

Tasks may have no related techniques, one, or several related techniques.

There are no techniques that business analysts are required to use.

There are so many different techniques that the BABOK® Guide documents only the ones that have already been tried and tested, and have demonstrated value. These are the techniques that the business analysis community uses most often.

Some of the techniques that are widely used include

  • acceptance and evaluation criteria definition
     
  • brainstorming
     
  • business rules analysis
     
  • data dictionary and glossary
     
  • data flow diagrams
     
  • data modeling
     
  • decision analysis
     
  • document analysis, and
     
  • interviews
     

Other widely used techniques include

  • metrics and key performance indicators
     
  • nonfunctional requirements analysis
     
  • organization modeling
     
  • problem tracking
     
  • process modeling
     
  • requirements workshops, and
     
  • scenarios and use cases

 

Question

What do business analysts use techniques for?

Options:

  1. To complete tasks
  2. To demonstrate value
  3. To determine methods

Answer

Option 1: Correct. Tasks have none, one, or several related techniques that business analysts can choose from to complete the task. They also provide information about the form that a task's output might take.

Option 2: Incorrect. Techniques are used to complete tasks. Some techniques are more relevant and more valuable than others.

Option 3: Incorrect. Methods that are related to at least one task are called techniques. Techniques are used to complete tasks and determine the form that a task's output might take.

 

Sometimes similar techniques that share a purpose are grouped under a single heading. The data modeling technique, for example, covers the use of class models, entity relationship diagrams, concept maps, term and fact models, object role models, and other similar techniques.

Although there are many less well-known techniques that competent business analysts might not be familiar with, business analysts should have a working knowledge of the more widely used techniques. This will enable them to perform tasks effectively in most of the situations they are likely to encounter.

A widely used technique might not always be the best possible technique to use in a given scenario. There might, for example, be a quicker or more effective solution. However, it's unrealistic to expect business analysts to be able to recall and demonstrate the expertise necessary to use every kind of technique.

In the BABOK® Guide, all techniques include

a purpose
The purpose describes what the technique is used for and the situations in which it is most applicable.
 
a description
The description covers exactly what the technique is and how it is used.
 
elements, and
The elements are key concepts that the business analyst needs to understand to use the technique. Each technique has a unique format and structure.
 
usage considerations
The usage considerations are the conditions under which the technique will remain effective
 
 

Question

For which purposes are techniques used in business analysis?

Options:

  1. To describe ways of completing tasks
  2. To provide information on forms that an output might take
  3. To provide value to the sponsoring organization
  4. To describe the best possible way to complete a task
  5. To determine a task's usage conditions

Answer

Option 1: Correct. A technique is a way that a business analyst can complete a task. Tasks might have no related techniques or one or more related techniques.

Option 2: Correct. Techniques provide additional information about the different forms that task outputs might take. Some techniques, for example, are designed to produce certain types of outputs.

Option 3: Correct. A technique is a method for completing a task. A task's output provides value to the sponsoring organization.

Option 4: Incorrect. Some tasks have more than one related technique. Depending on circumstance, certain techniques might be more valuable than others.

Option 5: Incorrect. Techniques have usage conditions, which describe the conditions under which they will remain effective. Usage conditions don't apply to tasks.