Bridging the business/IT divide
- Curriculum applicable to all industries
- Earn a University of Delaware Certificate of Completion
- LEARN MORE — view info session presentation
- Registration for this program is now closed.
A business analyst bridges the “understanding gap” between an organization and its technology, functioning as a type of translator who converts business needs into measurable IT requirements and solutions. To succeed in this role, the business analyst must have a broad range of business, technical and interpersonal skills, including being able to effectively write and review detailed functional specifications as well as develop and test systems based on those requirements.
You may choose to participate in any module(s), or save $600 and become eligible to earn a University of Delaware Certification of Completion by registering for all four modules in a single transaction. Offered at a bundled rate of $3,380, this equates to more than a 15% discount versus registering for each module individually. Each module meets for two days.*
At a median base salary of $73,022 and an overall job satisfaction rating of 3.6 out of 5, business analyst is ranked No. 26 on Glassdoor’s list of 50 Best Jobs in America for 2020. In 2019, the BA Times reported that the number of jobs for U.S. business analysts will increase from 364,000 to 2,720,000 by 2020. – LEARN MORE
Business analysts are routinely tasked with identifying the necessary modifications to help organizations stay on course – or chart more efficient routes – no matter how rough the wind gets. – LEARN MORE
Program details
Business Analysis Certificate
LOCATION: Live-Online
PRICE: $995 per module or $3,380 for all four modules, all materials included. Payment plan, scholarships and potential discounts available, including: Early registration, Military, UD student or alum, 2 or more (group).
- Who should participate in this program?
- Instructor
- Course outlines/Learner outcomes
- NEW! Career resources to help you succeed
- Technology requirements
- What our students say
- For more information
Who should participate in this program?
- Business analysts
- Designers/systems analysts
- Requirements professionals
- Business product owners
- Project/program managers
- Team leaders
- Testing/QA managers
- Process management professionals
- Management consultants
- Change management professionals
- IT specialists
Instructor
Amanda (Mandy) Dietz is the vice president-business analysis and project management and the customer experience practice leader for Orion Development Group. Dietz has over 35 years of experience as a strategic and tactical leader of transformational change.
In her corporate leadership roles, she was recognized for her work in the turnaround of distressed operations. Successes were achieved through strategic alignment, process improvement and business-focused technology solutions.
As a consultant and trainer for since 1997, Dietz has enabled organizations to deliver strategic results and build internal sustaining capabilities. Examples of her services include development and deployment of business analysis, process management and project management methodologies; creation and delivery of curriculum in business analysis, process management, project management, customer experience transformation and change management; project leadership and participation; and organizational coaching and support.
Dietz earned an MBA in international management from the University of South Florida and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Indiana University.
Course outlines/Learner outcomes
Module 1: Foundations of Business Analysis
Creating the strategic context for mission-critical projects
The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®) describes business analysis as the practice of enabling change in an organizational context by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to stakeholders. Utilizing version 3.0 of the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge®, students will learn the importance of value creation in the role of the business analyst. Through the effective use of business analysis, business analysts can ultimately improve the way organizations do business.
COURSE OUTLINE
Overview and Framework
- Key definitions
- Knowledge areas
- Requirements development overview
Project Selection
- Defining the business need
- Evaluating project alternatives
- Creating the business case
Stakeholder Management
- Identifying stakeholders
- Understanding stakeholder needs and influences
- Engaging stakeholders
BA Planning
- Applying the business analysis approach
- Planning the BA tasks
- Developing the communication strategy
LEARNER OUTCOMES
- Apply strategy and organizational tools to define the business need.
- Understand and apply International Institute of Business Analysis Knowledge Areas and Business Analysis Core Concepts Model.
- Create a business case.
- Identify and analyze stakeholders.
- Create a road map for BA activities and outcomes.
Module 2: Eliciting and Documenting Requirements
Collaborating to capture the true business needs
The business analyst has been described as the person who bridges the divide between IT departments and the business organizations they support. For all of the tools and techniques to elicit requirements, nothing is more important than making the most of human contact between these two interdependent groups. This module addresses several useful approaches to gathering requirements, focusing on the facilitation of collaborative sessions and the clear translation of business needs into requirements.
COURSE OUTLINE
Good Requirements
- Business rationale
- Requirements classification
- Creating the road map
Elicitation and Collaboration
- Understanding the difference
- Stakeholder analysis
- What to elicit
Techniques
- Process analysis techniques
- Interviews, focus groups, surveys
- Brainstorming
- User stories
- Use cases
- When, why and how to use the techniques
Writing Requirements
- Transitioning from elicitation to requirements
- Requirements tips and guidelines
LEARNER OUTCOMES
- Practice new tools and techniques that will strengthen elicitation and collaboration results.
- Develop a framework for improved stakeholder collaboration.
- Maintain stakeholder engagement and commitment throughout requirements elicitation and documentation.
- Identify and create use cases and user stories.
- Write good requirements.
- Ensure focus on business value delivery.
Module 3: Requirements Analysis and Design Definition
Converting business needs to solutions
The ultimate objective of a business analysis, process improvement or information technology project is to improve business results. This module presents proven approaches to analyzing current conditions, business needs and technology enablers. Verification and validation techniques are used to assure proposed solutions meet the needs of users and customers.
COURSE OUTLINE
Elaborating the Requirements
- Envisioning the future
- Additional modeling techniques
- Process, context, data
- Acceptance criteria
- The requirements package
Getting the Right Requirements Right
- Evaluating the requirements
- Evaluating the requirements package
- Alignment with the business value
- Requirements review techniques
Solution Design
- JAD sessions
- Leading creativity
- Identifying solutions
- Evaluating options
Managing BA Deliverables
- Requirements management plan
- Requirements prioritization
- Requirements traceability
- Change management
LEARNER OUTCOMES
- Help evaluate requirements for completeness, correctness and alignment with business needs.
- Create models that improve communication of business need and potential solutions.
- Manage requirements throughout the life cycle.
- Identify solutions that fulfill the business needs.
- Evaluate and recommend “best” solution(s).
- Enhance skills which further foster collaboration and creativity.
Module 4: Solution Deployment and Evaluation
Delivering business value
Creating an elegant, business-focused technology or process improvement solution is a worthy accomplishment; assuring that the solution is properly implemented and generates value on an ongoing basis is equally important. The skills and knowledge delivered in this module help assure that mission-critical solutions live up to their potential.
COURSE OUTLINE
Confirming the Solution
- Requirements allocation and traceability
- Solution validation
- Defect management
Solution Implementation
- Transition requirements
- Readiness assessment
- Implementation and support
Performance Evaluation
- Value metrics
- Performance analysis
- Root cause analysis
Value Delivery Optimization
- Process optimization
- Organizational optimization
- Change management
- BA “art”
- Sustaining the value delivery
LEARNER OUTCOMES
- Trace value from inception to fulfillment.
- Set the stage for a successful solution implementation.
- Assess the organization’s readiness for change.
- Identify barriers to realizing the full return on investment.
- Identify business-driven performance measures.
- Address gaps in value fulfillment.
- Validate achievement of the desired business value.
Career resources to help you succeed
NEW! — Participants enrolled in this certificate program will have access to a new suite of career resources and services to help them navigate a career transition, maximize their job search efforts and more. Click here to learn more about UD PCS Career Services.
Applicable to full certificate program registrants — These career resources are applicable to Business Analysis Certificate program participants, i.e., participants enrolling in all four Business Analysis Certificate program modules at the same time.
Technology requirements
- A laptop or desktop computer (PC or Mac) is required to participate in this class.
What our students say
- “Everything in every module applied to what I do as a business analyst.” – James Maynard
- “This program is literally like a toolbox. Here’s a drill; here’s how it works. Here’s a screwdriver; here’s how it works. Here’s a saw; here’s a different kind of saw; here’s another kind of saw. It’s then up to you when you are in a particular situation to decide which tool you need.” – Jessica Foote
*To qualify for the bundled rate of $3,380, and be eligible to earn a University of Delaware Certificate of Completion, all four Business Analysis modules must be registered for in a single transaction. No other discounts may be applied to the bundled rate. A Certificate of Completion will only be issued if the participant completes all four Business Analysis modules.
