Scoping the Project

Introduction

• What is the role of a business analyst?
• Review the major tasks performed by the business analyst.
• Define the essential skills needed to perform their tasks.

Scoping the Project from the Business Analyst's Perspective

• Understand why the project is being done. Without this understanding it is difficult for business analysts to elicit and document the right requirements and focus their business analysis work in the appropriate areas.
• Understand the organizational environment. Identify the business stakeholders who will be involved in the project and how they will impact the business area analysis.
• Learn techniques, including the context level dataflow diagram, to identify and document "what is" and, more importantly, "what is not" to be analyzed. This diagram includes interactions with people, other organizations, existing systems, and other software applications.
• Develop a change control process to ensure that once the scope of the project has been approved, all project participants will operate within the scope or formally approve any scope changes.
• Discuss how a business analyst should collect, organize, and maintain project information.
• Workshop - Scope the class case study project.

Analysis Communication Skills

• Focus on specific communication skills necessary for eliciting requirements:
  • Asking the right questions
  • Conflict management
  • Active listening skills
  • Paraphrasing, mirroring, acknowledging