2022 Business Analysis Career Guide

BUSINSS
ANALYSIS
CAREER GUIDE
2022
Business Analysis
Principles, Process, Job
Descriptions, Skills, Techniques,
Tools, Salary, Certifications,
Books and FAQs
Adaptive US : 100% Success or 100% refund
Why this book?
As world’s leading business analysis training
and consulting organization, we come across
many questions about the domain of
business analysis about what it is, whether
business analyst is a good career option,
business analysis process, tools and
techniques that business analysts use while
Business Analysis Career
conducting business analysis activities.
Guide 2021 is the most
We decided to compile all the information
comprehensive resource
that we came across and find useful to guide
you can find on business business analysts in having an awesome BA
analysis. career.
This can serve as a good guidebook for both

new and experienced business analysts.
If you come across any new information that

you find useful to business analysts, do write
to us. We will include the same in our book.
Adaptive US : 100% Success or 100% refund 2

Acknowledgements
Any great piece of work is always a team effort! Sincere

thanks to all our colleagues at Adaptive US for developing the
content and making us publish this amazing book.
Bibliography
A Guide to Business Analysis Body of Knowledge v3.0. International Institute of
Business Analysis. Toronto: IIBA
Syllabus for CPRE Foundation Level examination, IREB, Germany
Rupp, Klaus Pohl and Chris. A Study Guide for the Certified Professional for
Requirements Engineering Exam Foundation Level 2nd Edition. Rocky Nook Inc.,
2015. Kindle and Paperback.
Business Analysis, Debra and Paul, British Computer Society
Podeswa, Howard. The Business Analyst's Handbook. Boston: Course Technology,

2009. Paperback.
UML for the IT Business Analyst, Second Edition. Boston: Course Technology,
2010. Paperback.
James Cadle, Debra Paul and Paul Turner. Business Analysis Techniques.
Chippenham: British Informatics Society Limited, 2010. Paperback.

Table of contents
1. What is Business Analysis?.................................006

2. Why Business Analysis? ......................................010
3. Is BA a Good Career Option? ...........................016
4. Is Business Analysis For You? ............................022
5. Business analysis skills..........................................025
6. Business Analysis Principles................................033
7. Business Analysis Methodologies ....................037
8. Top 10 Business analysis tools ...........................040
9. Business Analysis Objectives .............................046
10. Business Analysis Techniques ............................048
11. What Is BABOK? ...................................................070
12. Business Analysis Process ..................................082
13. BA Careers .............................................................095
14. Business analyst salary ....................................... 105
15. BA Backgrounds....................................................108
16. What do Business Analysts do? ....................... 114
17. BA Roles And Responsibilities .......................... 118
18. How To Become A Business Analyst................ 122

Table of contents
19. Business Analyst Qualifications............................127

20. Business Analyst Career Paths.............................130
21. Top Business Analysis Certifications ..................135
22. Business Analysis Career FAQs ...........................144
23. About Adaptive US Inc….......................................150

What is
Business
Analysis?

What is business analysis?
Business analysis has become an integral
part of the most progressive
organizations which would like to
improve their performance using
information technology. Major reasons
why organizations start a business
Business analysis has analysis process would be:
many variations – The 1. To solve some of the problems in

their existing business processes.
2 popular ones being
2. Trying to exploit an opportunity
Business Needs
available in the market.
Analysis
As per Business Analysis Body of
(Requirements Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide) from
Analysis) and Business IIBA®,
Data Analysis “Business Analysis is the practice of

enabling change in an organizational
(Analytics).
context, by defining needs and
recommending solutions that deliver
value to stakeholders. It is a disciplined
approach for introducing and managing
change to organizations, whether they
are for-profit businesses, governments, or
non-profits. Business analysis is used to
identify and articulate the need for
change in how organizations work, and
to facilitate that change.”

As per Wikipedia,
“Business analysis is a research discipline of

identifying business needs and determining
solutions to business problems. Solutions
often include a software-systems
development component, but may also
consist of process improvement,
organizational change or strategic planning Business analysis has
and policy development.” assumed significance
Although there are different definitions, due to increased
depending upon the organization, there
does seem to be an area of common
capabilities offered by
ground on business analysis. IT.
The most common business analysis
projects involve:
Investigating business systems with a holistic

view of the situation. Often includes
examining elements of the organizational
structures and staff development issues as
well as current processes and IT systems.

• Evaluating actions to improve the
operation of a business system. Again, this
may require an examination of
organizational structure and staff
development needs, to ensure that they
are in line with any proposed process
redesign and IT system development.
Business analysis is
• Documenting the business requirements
one of the fastest for the IT system support using
growing IT career as appropriate documentation standards.
per a 2020 LinkedIn

study.

Why Business Analysis?
Business Analysis is essential because it

ensures what is being delivered is correct and
will provide real value against the business
opportunity. Every client has strategic goals
and the projects that we do for them to
advance those goals. Business analysis is
about delivering outputs to maximize
benefits to an organization.
Business Analysis is
As per a study by TechRepublic
essential because it
(http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/tech-
ensures what is being decision-maker/study-68-percent-of-it-
delivered is correct and projects-fail/), it is estimated that around 68%
of projects fail due to poor business analysis.
will provide real value 80% of customer expectation mismatches
against the business can be attributed to poor business analysis.
Hence, it is extremely essential that we focus
opportunity. on identifying and documenting complete
requirements for all projects.
According to past studies, approximately 60

percent of all errors in system development
projects originate due to poor business
analysis. These errors are often discovered
only in later project phases or once the
system has been deployed. This is because
developers interpret incorrect or incomplete
requirements as complete.

Missing requirements often remain
undetected during design and realization
because developers trust the requirements
engineers to deliver high-quality work.
Developers implement whatever the

requirements documents say or what they
believe it to be saying. Unclear, incomplete, Symptoms for
or wrong requirements inevitably lead to the
development of systems not possessing
inadequate business
critical properties or possessing analysis are as
unrequested and unneeded properties.
numerous as their
Costs of fixing requirements defects usually causes. Frequently, key
increase exponentially with the project
phase. For instance, the effort to fix a requirements are
requirements defect is up to 20 times higher missing or not clearly
if the correction is done during
programming as opposed to fixing the
formulated.
same defect during business analysis phase.
If the defect is fixed during acceptance
testing, effort involved may be 100 times
higher.
Symptoms for inadequate business analysis

are as numerous as their causes. Frequently,
key requirements are missing or not clearly
formulated.

For instance, if the requirements do not reflect
customer wishes precisely or if the
requirements are described in an imprecise
way and thus allow for several interpretations,
the result is often a system that does not meet
the expectations of the client or the users.
Most common reason
Most common reason for deficient
for deficient requirements is the misconception that
requirements is the requirements are self-evident and need not be
stated explicitly. This results in problems in
misconception that communication among the involved parties
requirements are self- that arise from differences in experience and
knowledge. To make matters worse, it is often
evident and need not
the case that especially the client wishes for
be stated explicitly. quick integration of recent results into a
production system.
Complete and correct requirements are the

basis for successful system development.
Identify potential risks during business analysis
and reduce them for successful project
progress. Discover faults and gaps in
requirements early on to avoid tedious
change processes.

Listed below are some more convincing

reasons why we use it.
The most important benefits of Business

Analysis are:
• Correct selection of business needs Business analysis has

• Clear Focus and Objectives many benefits – The
• High quality requirements key one being a
• Optimal solutions
successful change.
• Proactive Risk Management
• Consistent communication
• Higher capital productivity
• Improved customer satisfaction
• Improved organizational capabilities and

morale
• Finally, Better business outcomes.

Is Business Analyst
A Good
Career Option?
Is Business Analyst a Good Career
Option?
Business Analysts are high in demand in
various industries. Businesses today face
aggressive competition, so they need a
structured approach to plan, organize,
control, and manage their capabilities
and changes to deliver timely results. And
these results should be aligned to
business goals and the latest business
challenges.
LinkedIn reported
If you are good with know how to find
Business Analysis skills
effective solutions for any problem that
in among top 10 appears, adept in managing stakeholders
and have a keen eye for details, you
trending hard skills for
should give it a try to BA.
2020.
Business Analysis jobs are highly in
demand in 2021, and careers in Business
Analysis are the best option for new
management graduates. Business analysis
is one of the fastest-growing professions
with an all-time high growth rate of 14%
from 2014-2021.

Option?
A recent report prepared by LinkedIn
based on insights from 660+ million
professionals and 20+ million jobs titled
“The Skills Companies Need Most in 2020
- And How to Learn Them”, indicates that
Business Analysis skill has made the most
significant jump out of all the skills listed
in 2020’s trending hard skills.
The report also states that business

analysis is one of the few hard skills every
professional should have, as most roles
Business analysis has require some level of business analysis to
assumed significance due make decisions.
to increased capabilities
offered by IT.

Option?
Here’s a data insight from SEEK on the job opportunities for BAs and how
the job market is trending:

Option?
Some of the best reasons why to choose a
Business Analysis career option include:
• By 2025, there’ll be a need to fill

breakthrough 30 million BA roles due to
increased demand along with high attrition
Organizations have
(because of many retirements). There will be
also realized the a huge job opportunity for a business
importance of having analysis role in the coming future in various
sectors, including manufacturing &
skilled and capable construction, Information services &
BAs to enhance their publishing, finance & insurance,
management & professional services,
delivery capabilities utilities, among others.
and have started
• Business Analysts are needed in a wide
establishing Business variety of industries. Although quite
Analysis Centers of common in the construction and IT field,
project-oriented work is also common in
Excellence (BACoE). business services, oil and gas, finance and
insurance, manufacturing, and utility
industries worldwide.

Option?
• Salaries for Business Analysts are
highly competitive. According to IIBA,
the average Business Analyst salary in
the United States is $104K+ USD, in
108K+ CAD in Canada, ~75K GBP in
the UK and 138K+ AUD in Australia.
• There are plenty of opportunities for

advancement. Highly experienced,
specialized, certified Business Analysts
Average salary for can expect to see double the entry-
level salary—or more.
Business Analysts crossed
100K USD in United • Business Analysts are always learning.
For those who embrace change and
States. love seeing what’s new, Business
Analysts must be ready to regularly
refresh their knowledge of process
and structure, new markets,
technology, products and services,
and customers.

Is Business Analysis
For You?
Should you pursue Business
Analysis as a career option?
Business analysts are change enablers. If

you are good with know how to find
effective solutions for any problem that
appears, adept in managing stakeholders
and have a keen eye for details, you
should give it a try to BA. Business
analysis is one of the fastest-growing
professions with an all-time high growth
If you love solving rate of 14% from 2014-2021.
business needs, business Top 5 characteristics of a Business

Analysts
analysis is a great career
option. 1. Problem solver
2. Great communicator
3. Has eye for details
4. Good understanding of business and

technology
5. Great analysis skills
When may you not want to be a business

analyst?

Should you pursue Business
Analysis as a career option?
Here are few situations when you may not

pursue Business Analysis career:
1. You have strong technical bent of mind

and would like to research technical aspects
2. You want to be an individual contributor
3. Have strong interest in non-business

subjects such as sports, music, art etc.
.
Business analysis may
not be the calling for
everyone.

Adaptive US
Business analysis
skills
Business Analyst skills
Business analysts should be skilled in
analyzing, extracting, and reporting data
trends, and be able to share that
information with others and also apply it
on the business side. As long as they
have an understanding of how systems,
Business analyst role tools, and products work, Business
Analysts can still be skilled without
requires both soft
coming from an IT background. Most
skills and hard skills. Business Analysts have a strong IT
background and less experience in
business and are interested in shifting
away from IT to more hybrid roles.
According to the IIBA these are some of

the most important skills and experience
for a business analyst:
• Written and oral communication skills
• Consultative and interpersonal skills
• Facilitation skills

• Problem Solving and Analytical
thinking
• Being detail-oriented and task As a business analyst,

accurately one must learn how to
• Organizational skills interact with a
• Knowledge of the business structure sponsor, Domain SME,
End users, and all
• Stakeholder analysis
other business-side
• Requirements engineering
stakeholders,
• Costs benefit analysis including suppliers.
• Processes modeling
• Understanding of networks,
databases, and other technology
Business analysts need to have a

combination of hard and soft skills. In
order to be good at your job, you will
need to acquire/hone skills in
behavioral aspects.

Business Analysts must be able to

understand often not-so-eloquently-
explained ideas and phrase them in such
a way that they can be understood by
Most of the time the all the stakeholders.
technology folks Every BA will have a unique blend of

within IT, the external interpersonal skills but some soft skills
that would be well worth your while to
consultants & software
master are
vendors, and the
1. Communication Skill – As a BA we
businesspeople don't
need to be an effective
speak the same communicators establishing a
language. bridge between the various
stakeholders

2. Negotiation Skill – Balancing
between those demanding
requirements of the
customer/stakeholder and the
internal organization would
definitely need a good amount of
negotiation skills. Creating a fine
balance while looking at the
requirements from a holistic point
of view will for sure make us a
perfect BA.
3. Facilitation Skill – As a bridge

between various stakeholders we
need to have excellent facilitation
skills to ensure that
communication is proper and all
the requirements are articulated
well and explicitly.

4. Analytical thinking Skill – Get
analytical and problem-solving skills
brushed to analyze all the scenarios
well and come up with solutions and
ensure that there are no conflicts in
the team and all the members
Business Analyst communicate well with each other.
skills 5. Problem-solving Skill - A definite skill
for all BA, as given in the above
point.
6. Decision-Making Skill – You have

come up with multiple options for a
particular problem using your
analytical skills, now you need to
weigh the options well and come up
with a decision to present to the
steering committee, this is why you
need this skill.

7. Ability to see the bigger picture –
This is a very important skill for all
of us BA’s out here focusing only
on the given set of requirements Business Analyst
and not seeing the bigger picture skills
a lot of times leads to a situation
where the product does not see
the light of the day or gets
abandoned. Hence this is one of
the very important skills to have,
you need to have good business
knowledge and knowledge of
technology/business
advancements to see a bigger
picture and keep it in mind, while
the designing of the system is
being carried out.
8. Ability to appreciate and

empathize – See the points
coming from all stakeholders and
the Basis of all requirements and
make a good judgment of the
same keeping all in mind.

9. Ability to influence without authority
– As BA’s there are numerous
meetings we need to
spearhead/facilitate, this is where we
need to be good to influence senior
Business Analyst stakeholders and decision-
makers/sponsors of the project.
skills
10. Good interpersonal skills – Above all
skills, we need to have good
interpersonal skills and a good
rapport with the team and all
stakeholders to make the project
successful.

Business
Analysis
Principles
Sixteen Business Analysis Principles
A principle can be defined as an
underlying fundamental law or concept.
Therefore, Business Analysis principles are
the basic rules that should be followed to
manage changes successfully.
The Business Analysis Book of Knowledge

(BABOK) does not currently contain an
official list of principles for successful
change initiatives. However, IIBA’s Agile
Analysis Guide provides 7 principles
which are:
Business analysis
1. See the whole
principles work as north-
star for all business 2. Think as a customer
analysts. 3. Analyze to determine what is valuable
4. Get real using examples
5. Understand what is doable
6. Stimulate collaboration and continuous

improvement
7. Avoid waste

Here are 16 Business Analysis Principles we
are proposing:
1. Set clear and objective goals and

outcomes – A change without clear
objectives is bound to fail.
2. Engage stakeholders continuously –

Stakeholder needs are reason for the
Keep the principles in
change. Stakeholders must work together back of your mind
throughout the project.
ALWAYS.
3. Include all relevant stakeholders –
Successful change management requires all
key stakeholders to be included in the
change initiative.
4. Think holistically – Changes affect

people, process and technology and are
essential for successful change.
5. Adapt vigorously - Welcome change for

competitive advantage.
6. Deliver iteratively – Better outcomes

frequently, from a couple of weeks to a
couple of months, with a preference to the
shorter timescale.
7. Encourage change adoption - Motivate

stakeholders to change for better.

8. Communicate frequently - The most

efficient and effective communication is face-
to-face conversation.
9. Measure continually – Better outcomes are

the primary measure of progress.
Business analysis is
10. Work sustainably - Stakeholders should be
one of the fastest
able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.
growing IT career as
11. Pursue excellence - Continuous attention
per a 2020 LinkedIn to excellence in business analysis skills,
study. processes, and tools.
12. Avoid waste - Art of maximizing the

number of requirements not done–is essential.
13. Reflect regularly - Stakeholders reflect on

how to become more effective, then change
behavior accordingly.
14. Organize dynamically - Best solutions

emerge from self-organizing teams.
15. Manage risks proactively – Identify,

analyze, and mitigate risks
16. Define roles and responsibilities – Set clear

expectations from all key stakeholders.

Business Analysis Methodologies
Business Analysis methodologies all
ultimately accomplish the same thing —
a completed project — but with very
different approaches and journeys. While
there are numerous Business analysis
types, there are three primary ones that
get used the most often.
1. Waterfall / Predictive Business

Analysis
In Waterfall / Predictive Business Analysis,
Business analysis has 2
the effort is to complete business analysis
major approaches – activities before developing solutions.
Predictive (Waterfall) and Certain regulated domains demand
Waterfall / Predictive Business Analysis
Adaptive (Agile). approach. Also, this can work well when
the requirements are very clear up-front,
and the project duration is short.
2. Agile / Adaptive Business

Analysis
In Agile / Adaptive Business Analysis, the
effort is to conduct business analysis
activities iteratively as the solution gets
developed. This can work well when the
requirements are not very clear up-front,
and the project duration is long.

Business Analysis Methodologies
3. Hybrid Business Analysis
Hybrid business analysis tries to mix and

match good aspects of both Waterfall /
Predictive Business Analysis and Agile /
Adaptive Business Analysis, such as
conducting non-functional requirements
in a Waterfall / Predictive Business
Analysis approach whereas conducting
functional requirements in Agile /
Adaptive Business Analysis approach. Hybrid models are an
interesting option to
. explore.

Top 10 Business
Analysis Tools

Top 10 Business Analysis Tools
Here is a true list of the tools that we
have used extensively. We have no intent
to please or promote any specific tool or
organization.
Fundamentally, we need the following

types of business analysis tools:
To track requirements
Describe requirements in certain detail
Model requirements wherever feasible

One can get a toolset Collaboration tools
literally free for all these
Let’s start with #10.
types of requirements.
#10 Star UML
The tool I look forward to, for any UML

diagram, is StarUML. I have a version on
my system which is free, but which I
believe is no longer free over the
internet. StarUML is a simple software to
learn to draw use case diagrams such as
the Class diagram, State diagrams etc. In
case your company is still in the waterfall
world, you will find the StarUML to be a
useful tool to develop all kinds of UML
diagrams.

#9 Draw.io
Draw.io is a very handy tool to draw various

types of diagrams. On top of it, it is
completely free to use.
#8 Google drive
Another neat software from Google allows us

to share documents in a secured manner. It
Impress your practically offers unlimited storage capability
and for about $3 per month. You get
stakeholders with humongous space to store and share your
good diagrams. project artifacts.
#7 Skype
Skype is again a wonderful tool for remote

working and collaboration with stakeholders.
Today end users, developers could be in any
part of the world. A tool like Skype allows us
to coordinate and collaborate seamlessly
irrespective of where we work.

#6 Screencast-o-Matic
Screencast-o-Matic is a very little-known

tool, but I found it extremely helpful. As
business analysts, we need to ensure that
all the discussions that we have with our
stakeholders are recorded and kept for
future reference. Screencast-o-Matic
does a fantastic job of recording our
discussions and keeping them stored in a
place like YouTube which we can access
anytime later. One can make the YouTube
Use tools to record and videos private so that only your team
members and stakeholders are able to
transcribe your
access the videos. No more missing
stakeholder discussions. discussion points and no more worrisome
fact that we missed noting down
something during a discussion.
#5 BizAgi
BizAgi is another free tool that I really

love. It’s very simple to use and is
extremely powerful when you wish to
draw business process models. The good
part about BizAgi is that it also generates
fantastic documentation in MS Word.

#4 MS PowerPoint
You will read that a lot of people are saying death to

PowerPoint and all kinds of stuff, as to how evil
PowerPoint is. The fact is MS Office is not going to go
away from corporate life in the near future. Businesses
need communication and presentation. Nothing beats
PowerPoint at this time to share our ideas with our
stakeholders.
MS Office is still #3 MS Word

most used BA MS Word is the most popular word processor that
tool. stakeholders continue to use and hence we must be
familiar with creating documentation using MS Word.
The amount of BA documentation that is done using MS
Word has come down dramatically over the last 20
years, but still, when MS Word will be a good tool to
capture ideas, notes, and discussions for a foreseeable
future.
#2 MS Excel
This is our favorite BA tool. You can create wireframes

using MS Excel. If you learn to use Excel well, I bet you
will definitely fall in love with it. It is quite a powerful tool
for many things that any BA wishes to do including
requirements management, user interface development,
traceability matrix, etc.

#1 Google search
Finally, nothing beats Google search. Anytime

you get stuck as a BA, you need some help,
you need a particular template, just do a
Google search. Any BA who learns to
leverage Google will be a Super BA.
Leverage Google to
identify newer tools in
the market.

Business Analysis
Objectives

Business Analysis Objectives
Business analysis objectives are to enable
the organization to achieve higher
capability and performance. These are
the business objectives that stakeholders
want the change to accomplish. Within
Business Analysis, it is of utmost
importance that a change’s objectives are
stated clearly as these will impact every
decision in the business analysis lifecycle.
In brief, Business Analysis objectives are

the successful development and
Business analysis helps implementation of the solution.
organizations to achieve While preparing the change, look change

into the following perspectives. It helps to
their strategic objectives. give a much better understanding of the
whole process.
• Successful development and

implementation of desired change.
Productive guidance, efficient

communication, and qualified supervision
to the stakeholders.
• Achievement of the change’s main goal

within the given constraints.
• Capture learning from the business

analysis activities.

Adaptive US
What Are
Business Analysis
Techniques?
Business Analysis Techniques
Functional decomposition breaks down a
large aspect (processes, functional areas,
Functional deliverables, scope, or problems) into
smaller aspects, as independent as
decomposition possible, so that work can be assigned to
different groups. This reduces complexity
of analysis.
Estimation techniques are used

for better understanding of
possible range of costs and Estimation
efforts associated with any
change..
An interface is a connection between

2 components or solutions. Identify
Interface analysis interfaces and interactions between
solutions and/or solution
components.

Org. modelling describes roles,
responsibilities, and reporting structures
Organizational that exist within an organization, and
aligns those structures with organization’s
modelling goals. Visual representations of
organizational units.
Identify stakeholders affected by a

proposed initiative or share a common
business need, level of decision-
Stakeholder list, map, or
making authority, authority within
domain and organization, attitude/ personas
interest towards change, and business
analysis work.
Describe scope of analysis or scope of

a solution. They serve as a basis for
Scope modelling defining and limiting scope of business
analysis and project work

One or group of stakeholders deliberate

on an idea to produce numerous new
Brainstorming
. ideas in a non-judgmental environment,
and to derive themes for further analysis.
Requirements workshop, also known as JAD

(Joint application design) session, is a highly
productive focused event attended by
carefully selected key stakeholders, and
Subject Matter Experts for a short, intensive Workshops
period (typically 1 or a few days).
Aspired to start or advance your career in

Business Analysis? Choosing one of these
Best Business Analysis Certifications will help
you stand out!

Elicit ideas, impressions, preferences, and
needs and attitudes from pre-qualified
individuals about a specific product, service
Focus groups or opportunity in an interactive group
environment. Guided by a moderator.
Typically 1 to 2 hours with 6-12 attendees.
Uses game playing techniques to collaborate

in developing common understanding of a
problem or a solution. Involves strong visual
or tactile (activities) elements such as moving
Collaborative games
sticky notes, writing on whiteboards, or
drawing pictures.
Most common form of elicitation technique

where interviewers ask questions to
Interviews stakeholders. Effective interviewers control
discussions understand needs from ALL
stakeholders, probe deeper when needed
and ensure completeness of answers.

Elicit information by observing activities

Observation and their contexts.
Administers a set of written

questions to stakeholders and
Subject Matter Experts. Survey can
elicit information from many
people, sometimes anonymously, in
a relatively short period of time. Survey or questionnaire
Can collect information about
customers, products, work practices
and attitudes. Alternatively,
respondents are provided with a
series of statements and asked for
their level of agreement.
Elicit Business Analysis information, by
examining materials describing business
environment or organizational assets.
Document analysis helps in understanding
context of a business need or understanding
Document analysis
how existing solutions are implemented.
Based on Business Analysis information being
explored, purpose, scope, and topics to be
researched are determined.

Benchmarking compares org. practices
against best-in-class practices from
Benchmarking and competitors, government, industry
associations or standards. Market analysis
market analysis understands customers’ needs, factors
influencing purchase decisions, and
studies competitors.
Provides an early model of final

result, widely used for product
design. Details UI requirements and
integrates them with other
requirements such as use cases,
scenarios, data, and business rules.
Stakeholders often find prototyping
Prototyping
to be a concrete means of
identifying, describing, and
validating their interface needs.
Prototypes can discover desired
process flow and business rules.
Comprises of key terms relevant to a

business domain to provide a common
understanding of terms. Contains
Glossary
definitions and synonyms. Needs to be
organized and be accessible to all
stakeholders.

Articulates and captures ideas in a non-
linear (tree) structure. Ideas are grouped
as topics, sub-topics, further sub-sub-
Mind Map topics. Mind maps use words, images,
color, and connections to structure
thoughts, ideas, and information.
Backlogs record, track and prioritize

remaining work items. Backlog
management is a planned approach
to manage remaining work for
project. In managed backlogs, items
at top have highest business value Backlog management
and priority. Backlog items can be
user stories, use cases, defects, CRs,
risks etc.
Business policies dictate actions of an

enterprise and people in it by broadly
Business rules
controlling, influencing, or regulating
analysis them. Business rules serves as a
criterion for guiding behavior and
making decisions in a specific, testable
manner.

Discusses and documents successes,
failures and improvement
recommendations for future phases or
Lessons learned projects. Can include any format or
venue that is acceptable to key
stakeholders. Can be formal facilitated
meetings or informal.
Provides a framework for

stakeholder decisions to
understand relative importance of
Prioritization
requirements. Importance may be
based on value, risk, difficulty of
implementation etc.
Communicate, verify, and validate content of

work products, formally or informally.
Communicate review objectives in advance to
Reviews
participants.

Captures and assigns responsibility for
issues and stakeholder concerns. Items
can refer to actions, assumptions,
Item tracking constraints, dependencies, defects,
enhancements, and issues.
A strategic planning and

management tool to measure org.
performance beyond traditional
financial measures aligned to Balanced scorecard
organization's vision and strategy.
Capability maps provide a graphical

view of capabilities. Capabilities
Business capability describes ability of an enterprise to act
analysis on or transform something that helps
achieve a business goal or objective.
Capabilities describe outcome of
performance or transformation, not
how it is performed.

Formally or informally, justify investments
based on estimated value compared to cost.
Spend time and resources on business case
Business cases proportional to the size and importance of its
potential value. Business cases do not provide
intricate details.
Comprises 9 building blocks describing how

an organization intends to deliver value. As a
Business model
diagnostic tool, use elements of the canvas as canvas
a lens into current process or system of
business, especially wrt relative amounts of
energy, time, and resources currently invested
in various areas.
Supports decision-making in complex,

Decision analysis difficult, or uncertain situations. Examines and
models possible consequences of different
decisions.

Shows how repeatable business decisions are
made using data and knowledge.
Decision modeling
Explore financial aspects (benefits and costs) Financial analysis

of an investment.
Identify, analyze, and evaluate uncertainties

Risk analysis and that could negatively affect value, develop
management and manage way of dealing with risks.

SWOT is an acronym for Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. A
framework for strategic planning, opportunity
SWOT analysis analysis, competitive analysis, business, and
product development.
Organizes business vocabulary, Concept modelling

usually starting with glossary.
Standard definitions of primitive data

elements, their meanings, allowable values,
how those elements combine into composite
Data dictionary
data elements. Used to manage data within a
solution’s context, often used along with ER
diagrams.

Data model describe entities, classes or data
objects relevant to a domain, their attributes
and relationships among them.
Data modelling
Show transformation of data from

(data source such as external
Data flow diagrams
sources, activities and destination).
Data used in DFDs should be
described in a data dictionary.
Highest level diagram (Level 0) is
context diagram represents the
entire system.
Graphical model to describe sequential

Process modelling flow of activities. A system process model
defines sequential flow of control among
programs or units within a computer
system. A program process flow shows
sequential execution of program
statements within a software program.

Sequence diagrams (also known as event
diagrams) model logic of usage scenarios, by
showing information (also known as stimuli,
Sequence diagrams or message) passed between objects during
execution of a scenario.
State models (also sometimes called a

process or system transition model) describe
State modelling
and analyze different possible states (formal
representation of a status) of an entity within
a system, how that entity changes from one
process or system to another and what can
happen to entity when it is in each state.
User stories are a brief textual description,

User stories typically 1 or 2 sentences, of functionality that
users need from a solution to meet a
business objective. User story describes actor
(who uses story), goal they are trying to
accomplish, and any additional information to
be critical to understanding scope of story.

Scenarios, and use cases describe how
actors (a person or a system) interacts
Use cases and with a solution to accomplish one or
scenarios more of that person or systems goals.
Examines requirements for a

solution that define how well Non-functional
functional requirements must
requirements analysis
perform. Also known as quality
attributes or quality of service
requirements. Expressed in
textual formats as declarative
statements or in matrices.
Ensure coverage of activities by

Roles and denoting responsibility, to identified
permissions matrix roles, and to discover missing roles.

Acceptance criteria describe minimal set of
requirements to be met for a solution to be
Acceptance and worth implementing, also known as Must
evaluation criteria Have requirements. Typically used when
evaluation only one possible solution and is
expressed as pass or fail. Must be testable.
Measure performance of solutions,

Metrics and key
solution components and other
matters of interest to stakeholders. performance
A metric is a quantifiable level of an
indicators (KPIs)
indicator to measure progress. A
target metric is objective to be
reached within a specified period.
Analyzes processes for their effectiveness,

Process analysis efficiency, and identifies improvement
opportunities.

Identify and evaluate underlying causes of a
problem, looking into causes occurring due
to people, physical or organizational effects.
Root cause analysis
Assess ability of a potential vendor to

meet commitments wrt delivery and Vendor assessment
consistent provision of a product or
service.
Finds useful patterns and insights from

Data mining large amounts of data, usually resulting in
mathematical models. Utilized in either
supervised (user poses a question) or
unsupervised (pure pattern discovery)
investigations.

Most is a short form of Mission, Objectives,
Strategies. It allows business analysts to
perform thorough internal analysis of what is
MOST the aim of an organization to achieve and
how to tackles such issues.
Pestle stands for (Political, Economic,

Sociological, Technological, Legal, and
Environmental). This model helps business PESTLE
analysts to evaluate all the external factors
which can possibly impact their organization
and determine how to address them.
SWOT is a full form of Strengths, Weaknesses,

SWOT Opportunities, and Threats. This technique
helps we to find areas of both strength and
weakness. It also allows for the proper
allocation of resources.

Must or Should, Could or Would process is a
long-form of MoSCoW. This technique allows
prioritization of requirements by presenting a
MoSCoW framework in which every individual
requirement should be evaluated relative to
the others.
CATWOE is an acronym for Customers,

Actors, Transformation Process, World View,
Owner, and Environmental. This technique CATWOE
helps us to recognize processes that may be
affected by any action the business
undertakes.
This technique is a backbone of both Six

The 5 Whys Sigma and business analysis techniques. It
consists of leading questions that allow
business analysts to single out the root cause
of an issue by asking why such a situation
arises.

This process helps we to consider alternate
perspectives and ideas. The 'six hats' in a
technique which his categorized as:
• Green (creative thinking)
• Blue talk about big-picture

overview.
Six Thinking Hats
• White (logical, data-driven thinking)
• Yellow (positive thinking, which

mainly focused on pros)
• Red (emotion-based reactions)
• Black (opposing thinking, which is

focused on cons)
This is used to perform an in-depth analysis

of early-stage businesses/ventures on seven
important categories. Market opportunity,
Heptalysis Product/solution, Execution plan, Financial
engine, Human capital, Potential return and
Margin of safety.

Is essentially another take on PESTLE. we will

notice it factors in the same elements of
PESTLE and shouldn't be considered a tool STEER
on its own except an author/user prefers to
use this acronym as opposed to PESTLE.
STEER puts into consideration – the following
Socio-cultural, Technological, Economic,
Ecological, and Regulatory Factors.
.
This is often used in a brainstorming session
to generate and analyze ideas and options. It
is useful to encourage specific types of
thinking and can be a convenient and
de Bono's Six symbolic way to request someone to "switch
gears". It involves restricting the group to
Thinking Hats
only thinking in specific ways – giving ideas &
analysis in the "mood" of the time. Also
known as the Six Thinking Hats. White: Pure
facts, logical. Green: Creative. Yellow: Bright,
optimistic, positive. Black: Negative, devil’s
advocate. Red: Emotional. Blue: Cold, control.

Adaptive US

What is Business Analysis Body of
Knowledge
BABoK is the acronym for Business Analysis
Body of Knowledge. BABoK contains a
description of generally accepted practices in
the field of business analysis. It gives
guidance on the skills and knowledge that
business analysts must possess. It is published
The core content of
by the International Institute of Business
the BABOK Guide Analysis (IIBA), Canada.
comprises 6 The contents of the BABoK guide have been
knowledge areas (KA) verified thoroughly by practitioners. BABoK
has undergone multiple revisions over its
and 30 business
history. The current version of BABoK is V3.
analysis tasks. BABoK does not mandate that the practices
described in it should be followed under all
circumstances. Business Analysis practices
MUST be tailored to specific conditions. All
IIBA core business analysis certifications,
CBAP, CCBA, and ECBA are based on BABoK.
Knowledge areas comprise logically (but not

sequentially) related tasks. The tasks under
each KA helps in accomplishing the purpose
of the associated knowledge area.

BA Planning & Monitoring Tasks
BA Planning & Monitoring Tasks
Plan BA approach
Plan stakeholder engagement
Plan BA governance
Plan BA information management
Identify BA performance improvements

Elicitation & Collaboration Tasks
Elicitation & Collaboration
Prepare for elicitation
Conduct elicitation
Confirm elicitation results
Communicate BA information
Manage stakeholder collaboration

Requirements Life Cycle
Management Tasks
Requirements Life Cycle Management
Trace requirements
Maintain requirements
Prioritize requirements
Assess requirements changes
Approve requirements

Strategy Analysis
Strategy Analysis
Analyze current state
Define future state
Assess risks
Define change strategy

Requirements Analysis & Design
Definition Tasks
Requirements Analysis & Design Definition
Specify and model requirements
Verify requirements
Validate requirements
Define requirements architecture
Define design options

Analyze potential value and recommend
solution

Solution Evaluation
Solution Evaluation
Measure solution performance
Analyze performance measures
Assess solution limitations
Assess enterprise limitations
Recommend actions to increase solution

value

50 Techniques of BABoK®
Acceptance and Business cases

evaluation criteria
Business model canvas
Backlog management
Business rules analysis

Balanced scorecard
Collaborative games
Benchmarking and
market analysis
Concept Modeling
Brainstorming
Data dictionary
Business capability
analysis
Data flow diagrams

Data mining Functional

decomposition
Data modeling
Glossary
Decision analysis
Interface analysis
Decision modeling Interviews
Document analysis
Item tracking
Estimation
Lessons learned
Financial analysis
Metrics and key
Focus groups performance
indicators (KPIs)

Mind mapping Reviews
Non-functional
Risk analysis and
requirements analysis
management
Observation
Roles and
permissions matrix
Organizational
Root cause analysis
modeling
Prioritization
Scope modeling
Process analysis
Sequence diagrams
Process modeling
Stakeholder list,
Prototyping map, or personas

State modeling
Survey or questionnaire
SWOT analysis
Use cases and scenarios
User stories
Vendor assessment
Workshops

Business Analysis Process
1. Plan, Engagement, and Monitor
There are certain activities which run across

the business analysis life cycle. This is
numbered as 0 as it is the foundation for the
remaining phases. Phase 1 will involve
continuous planning, monitoring, engaging
stakeholders, managing issues, risks,
Business analysis
requirements, traceability. For every phase,
processes need to we should perform appropriate level of
be optimized based planning and monitoring.
on the context. • Create a task plan
It is extremely important that you create a

task plan for yourself and monitor your
progress on your task plan. A task plan works
like a compass for you.

• Choosing the most appropriate types of
business analysis deliverables, given the
project scope, project methodology, and
other key aspects of the project context.
• Defining the specific list of business

analysis deliverables that will completely
cover the scope of the project and Having domain
identifying the stakeholders who will be
knowledge makes it
part of the creation and validation of each
deliverable. easier for the BA to
• Identifying the timelines for completing interact with
the business analysis deliverables. Stakeholders.
Make Yourself Familiar with Domain
As Business analysts or as project team

members, we must understand the business
domain. Now one would not have
experience in a domain unless one works in
the domain. So, this seems to be a chicken
and egg problem. So how can we learn a
new domain quickly? Here are few tips that
can help all of us:
• Learn vocabulary for the domain
I would consider this as the most crucial

journey. Most businesses fundamentally do
lots of things which are common.

However, they use the terminology which
could be very different from another domain.
So, once you start appreciating what the
terminologies mean, then it becomes much
easier for you to understand and
communicate with stakeholders. If you are
comfortable with the language of business,
business becomes comfortable with you.
APQC has a fantastic • Refer basics of domain on APQC.org
resource base to
This is a website I find I find very useful, where
learn about different one can learn basic tasks that companies
perform in various domains. If you visit the
industries.
process classification framework provided on
APQC.org, you will see process definitions for
at least about 25 domains. You may not get an
exact domain, but you will definitely find
something close to your domain.
• Read a fundamental book on the domain
Most domains have a fundamental book

written by a prominent author. Usually these
books are called as handbook of the domain.
For example, you can look at handbook of
Banking, or Handbook of insurance, or
Handbook of retail.

Such books are a very good primer for what
happens in the particular domain so if you
are planning to join a particular domain.
Please buy the paper copy of the book and
go through it thoroughly.
• Identify resources on internet
Internet is a great source of information.

There are multiple
Find authoritative websites which describe websites on most
about a particular domain that would be
industries today.
very helpful for you to learn the new
domain. Only challenge with internet-based
learning is that internet is a vast information
source, so you have to be really careful not
to get deluged in the vast amount of
information on internet. I still prefer books
for initial reading.
• Identify people with domain knowledge
This is another great way to learn a new

domain. Try to be in friendly terms with
them. They would know lot of tips and tricks
and they also may have information
resources which could be invaluable for you.

I remember when I was working as a
Consultant for Change management, I
developed good friendship with a senior
colleague of mine in my organization who had
tremendous knowledge in change
management consulting. I got books and
materials from him which was a great help for
Many BA tools are me in my project.
available for free • Be familiar with any of requirements
today such as modeling and management tools
BizAgi Business Most clients use some tools for requirements

Process Modeler. modeling and management tools, the most
prominent ones being MS Visio and Jira. Make
yourself comfortable with the same.
2. Understand Project Context, Objectives,

and Scope
Often business analysts are expected

contribute as soon as possible towards project
delivery. Often, the project may have started
already, or a phase may be completed. As
business analysts, it’s our job to clarify the
business and project objectives as quickly as
possible. Investing some time, whether that’s a
few hours or few days, to get oriented will
ensure we are not only moving quickly but
also competent, effective and confident
contributor for the project.

Our key responsibilities in this step include:
• Plan for understanding the client, project

objectives, context, and scope
• Understanding the project history so that

we do not repeat work that’s already been
done.
Look for glossary for
• Understanding the existing systems and
the industry and
business processes so we have a
reasonably clear picture of the current organization.
process or system that needs to change.
• Understand domain and organization

vocabulary
• Understand project objectives and scope.
• Meet key stakeholders – Sponsor, Project

Manager, Domain Subject Matter Experts,
and Implementation Subject Matter
Experts.
• Understand project documentation

standard to deliverables that meet
stakeholder needs.
• Understand scope and constraints on the

project.

• Develop clear scope statement to validate
stakeholder requirements against project
scope.
• Get to understand the solution approach

from the sponsor.
• Learn tools to be used to in the project for

Solutions can be requirements management.
developed or
• This step gets we the information we need
purchased. Do to be successful and effective in the context
Build-vs-Buy of this project.
analysis.
3. Elicit Stakeholder Requirements
Your key responsibilities in this step include:
• Plan to understand the process and

expectations in detail from various
stakeholders to understand their
expectations from the solution.
• Identify stakeholders who are in best

position to provide the requirements.
• Choose appropriate techniques to conduct

elicitation activities.
• Conduct elicitation sessions.

Elicit both functional and non-functional
requirements, normal and exception
requirements.
• Confirm elicitation results with

stakeholders and other sources of
requirements.
4. Get Requirements Approved

Agile methods
manage requirements
Not all stakeholder expectations can be
met given the organizational constraints. approval through
We need to understand which prioritized backlog.
requirements are critical and feasible.
Your key responsibilities in this step

include:
• Plan for managing requirements elicited

from various sources.
• Define a requirements prioritization

approach and get it approved by
Sponsor / PM.
• Prioritize requirements.
• Verify alignment to scope.
• Get requirements approved from

competent authorities.

5. Develop Detailed Requirements
Specifications
Detailed requirements provide the

implementation team with the information
they need to implement the solution. Your key
responsibilities in this step include:
Detailing of • Plan for developing detailed requirements
requirements can specifications.
help developers to • Develop requirements models.

develop solutions • Develop detailed specifications.
within minimum • Ensure quality of requirements specified.
gaps.
• Reviewing and validating detailed
specifications with appropriate business and
technology stakeholders and filling in any
gaps.
6. Support Implementation SMEs
This step is all about ensuring all members of

the business community are prepared to
embrace the changes that have been
specified as part of the project.

Your key responsibilities in this step include:
• Engage with implementation team to

explain detailed requirements.
• Ensure the solution design fulfills all of the

detailed requirements
• Review test plans and/or test cases to Business analysts

ensure they cover both functional and
explain requirements
non-functional requirements.
to developers.
• Develop transition requirements.
• Be available to resolve issues surfacing

during the technical design, technical
implementation, or testing phases of the
project.
• Managing requirements changes to

ensure that everyone is working from up-
to-date documentation and that
appropriate stakeholders are involved in
all decisions about change.
• When appropriate, leading user

acceptance testing efforts completed by
the business community to ensure that
the software implementation meets the
needs of business end users.

• Training end users / working with the
learning instructors to ensure end users
understand all process and system changes
• Collaborating with organizational process

designers to update organizational assets
Study factors limiting impacted by the business process and
technology changes.
solution
performance.
7. Evaluate and Improve Solution
Performance
A track record of successful projects creates

significant positive momentum within an
organization. So, if we need to assess the
value created by the solution.
Your key responsibilities in this step may

include:
• Evaluating the results achieved against the

business objectives for the project to show
the extent to which the original objectives
have been fulfilled.

• Communicating the results to the all the

stakeholders.
• Participating in the project closure

activities.
• Suggesting follow-up projects and Record your personal

initiatives to fully realize the intended learnings from all
business objectives of the project or to
solve new problems that are discovered significant projects
while evaluating the impact of this project. you participate.
• Recording one’s personal learnings from
the project for future reference.
• Celebrating the success of your hard

work, commitment and the success of the
project.

Adaptive US
Business Analysis
Careers

Business Analysis Career
The demand for Business Analysts has been
on an all-time high due to the growth
Changes / prospects, career opportunities, strategic
improvements, and involvement in the organization, etc. Business
Analysts play a vital role in fixing obsolete
adopting new processes, bringing in new Here is a simple
technologies. BA visual of the typical careers that easily open a
path to a BA job due to the dynamism of the
careers have a role.
proportionate balance
Here is a simple visual of the typical careers
of technology that easily open a path to a BA job due to the
exposure and dynamism of the role.
leadership skills.

As per Wikipedia,
The majority of the companies look for

Business Analysts with broader skillsets for
problem-solving, excellent communication
skills (written and verbal), an inherent ability
As per Harvard
to work well with employees at all levels of
the organization. A business analyst is Business School in
involved in requirement elicitation, their article on How to
documentation, process refinement,
business processes identification, etc. Become a Business
BAs are often known by other names like
Analyst, 'Business
business intelligence analysts, business analysts need to know
process analysts, or management analysts.
how to translate data
You may also be aware of jobs that include
aspects of business analysis but lack the into plain language to
formal title. spur executives and
There are several educational paths to cross-disciplinary
becoming a business analyst.
teams to capitalize on
The image and the explanation below show
their findings.
professions from where it is easier to enter
the business analysis world. This cross-over
is accompanied by learning new skills and
tools.

The image and the explanation below show
professions from where it is easier to enter the
business analysis world. This cross-over is
accompanied by learning new skills and tools.
There are several

paths to becoming a
business analyst.
Quality Analyst
In the world of Software Development, it is the
quality of the product that counts. Quality
assurance professionals are the ones who are
responsible for testing the quality of the
product, system, or application. Their primary
focus is to capture all the defects and ill-
functioning of the system and ensure that it
behaves in the required and expected manner.
A Quality Analyst with useful transferable skills
and a fair understanding of the business field's
requirements can offer a good chance of
having a career as a Business Analyst in the
future.
For those quality analysts looking at becoming
a BA, Transitioning Career from Quality
Analyst to Business Analyst will be a valuable
read.

Tech Writer
A tech writer creates technical

documentation that helps to
understand the use of a product and
service. According to the The blog 10 Steps to
organization's requirement, technical Transition from Tech
writers have strong written
Writer to Business
communication skills with some
aspects of business analysis, such as
Analyst gives you a
product knowledge, domain fair idea of what a
knowledge, and elicitation skills. Often tech writer needs to
in the business world, a single person
do to become a
can effectively handle both the works
of a Business analyst and technical
valuable business
writer as the skills required overlap analyst.
each other.
These skills often allow the person to

apply for different organizational roles
such as those of a Business Analyst as
they share common skills and
character traits.

Process Analyst
They specialize in bringing a change to

A Process analyst's organizations through analysis and
primary goal is to implementation of business processes. They
keep track of the organization's business
assess business performance, conduct process mapping, and
requirements and look out for inefficiency within the system.
make Those trying to pursue a career as a process

analyst require fluency in communication skills,
recommendations
interpersonal abilities, and technical and
based on evidence to research experience. Given the skills required,
support process they are close to what is necessary for a
Business Analyst's role.
improvement.
Customer Service or Technical Support
Customer service or technical support

professionals help the customers clear their
doubts against a service or product and solve
their problems. Being an excellent
communicator prepares them to handle the
challenging aspects of discovering
requirements and negotiating all the project
scopes. They are experienced in problem-
solving and providing creative solutions. They
also possess deep experience in using various
tools and industries, which further helps them
land in a varied role within the business
analysis.

Further, to grow into a Business
Analyst role, these professionals need
to be efficient in taking notes on
business analysis tasks, get more
involved in project works, and have
excellent communication skills.
A banker who is keen
Finance/ Insurance/ Banking
on pursuing a career as
Financial Analysts or banking professionals
are tasked with studying financial data, a business analyst can
researching, preparing reports, and making get valuable pointers
investment decisions for the organization.
They need to be strong in statistics and
from the blog 8 Steps
understand probability, trends, and to Transition from
distribution. An efficient analyst should be
Banker to Business
capable of spotting trends of complex
datasets and makes a proper inference. Analyst.
They are called upon to use financial models
and make business decisions.

Credit Analyst
Credit analysts are usually employed to

To successfully analyze the credit data and financial
transition into and information of an organization. They prepare
reports based on their findings to decide on
transcend in the BA creditworthiness. They need to be good
career, along with the decision-makers with a broad knowledge of
the financial industry o excel in the industry.
required skills, what's They also provide a helping hand to the
needed is good career marketing and the sales department in
managing financial orders.
planning.
Any of these professions mentioned above
can form the foundation of your business
analysis journey if that is where your passion
lies. Professionals in these roles often perform
roles under the ambit of business analysis
without being called a BA. Therefore, they
already have transferrable skills that can form
the launching pad for an excellent BA career
that is highly lucrative in terms of opportunity.
One can get trained and acquire the BA tools

knowledge and BA skills to start a BA career in
the current organization or start looking for
one in a new organization.

• Find opportunities within your organization
• Networking is often key to your success, so

This shows that learn to leverage it
Business Analysts earn Business analysts are one of the best assets of
higher than what an organization and create great value. They
are very vital to the success of a project.
other professionals do
As Chris Grosser said, "Opportunities don't
and have an excellent
happen. You create them." So, if you really
career progression want to succeed as a business analyst, you
path need to get out of your comfort zone, show
the grit to move ahead by carefully planning
your career path and working towards it. Treat
each stumbling block in your career path as a
steppingstone. Believe in yourself, work hard
and be passionate about what you do. Being
focused on your career goal to become a
business analyst and overcoming the
challenges you face will help you embark on
an awesome BA career.

Given below are some time-tested and
successful tips that can successfully
transition to an awesome BA career.
• Learn the basics of how businesses

are run
• Learn the business analysis process Here are some time-

• Hone your behavioral skills tested and successful
tips that can
• Learn management tools &
requirements modeling tools successfully transition
to an awesome BA
• Learn the domain of the
organization you work in or the career.
domain in which you want to work in
• Hone your transferrable skills
• Participate in virtual BA special

interest groups/communities and
attend conferences and lectures on
business analysis
• Undergo BA training and get

Certified by a global entity like IIBA

Adaptive US
Business Analyst
Salary

Business Analyst Salary
IIBA conducted its annual salary survey

for the year 2020 with 5491 participants
Worldwide average from across 129 countries. The main
salary ranges for factors that were considered when
business analysts conducting the study were age,
education, employment experience,
based on experience:
salary, career development,
Entry Level: $40,000 to certification, business analysis maturity
level, agile approaches, digital
$70,000
transformation, and cybersecurity.
Mid-Career: $55,000 USA in US Dollars:
to $95,000
Average BA salary of $104,502 -
Experienced: $70,000 -
Women - $102,979 USD, Men -
$150,000 $107,210 USD.
Average salary by education level:

Bachelor’s degree - $101,135 to
$101,729 USD, Master’s degree -
$105,729 to $109,317 USD
BAs who hold a certification have a

higher paygrade of $121,364 to
$124,096 USD.

Business Analyst Salary
CANADA in Canadian Dollars:
Average BA salary of $108,090 CAD
Bachelor’s degree - $85,517 to
Worldwide average $91,643 CAD, Master’s degree-
salary ranges for $102,637 to $110,402 CAD.
business analysts higher pay grade of $87,886 to
based on experience: $115,665 CAD
Entry Level: $40,000 to AUSTRALIA in Australian AUD :

$70,000 Average BA salary of $137,681 (in)
Mid-Career: $55,000 Bachelor’s degree - $127,321 to
$129,263 AUD, Master’s degree -
to $95,000
$133,611 to $148,146 AUD
Experienced: $70,000 - BAs who hold a certification have a
higher paygrade of $102,225 to
$150,000 $138,319 AUD
UK (in British Pounds Sterling)

Average BA salary of £74,923 GBP
Bachelor's degree - £68,905 to
£70,491 GBP, Master's degree -
£64,949 to £97,243 GBP
higher basic paygrade of £75,064

Adaptive US
BA
Backgrounds

Business Analyst Backgrounds
Here is a compilation of 100+ job roles from
where professionals have become successful
business analysts. If you carry any of the
following job titles, you can always sharpen
the skills to become an all-rounded business
analyst
. 1 Agile Analyst
2 Agile Business Analyst
3 Application Director
4 Application Owner
Business analysis is 5 BI Analyst
truly a diverse skill. 6 Business Architect
7 Business Consultant
8 Business Intelligence Analyst
9 Business Process Analyst
10 Business Solution Architect
11 Business Systems Analyst
12 Change Enabler
13 Chief Information Officer
14 Chief Product Owner

15 Compliance Manager

Business Analysts Backgrounds
16 Data Analyst
17 Data Engineer
18 Digital Media Consultant
19 Domain Expert
20 Enterprise Architect
Many professionals
21 Enterprise Process Engineer perform tasks related
to business analysis
22 Enterprise Solutions Designer
but do not carry the
23 ERP Analyst job title of business
24 ERP Consultant analyst.
25 Financial Analyst
26 Functional Analyst
27 Functional Architect
28 Functional Consultant
29 Help Desk Analyst
30 Information Analyst
31 Information Architect
32 Information Security Analyst
33 Information Technology Lead

34 Information Technology Manager
35 Insights Analyst
36 IT Analyst
37 IT Business Analyst
38 IT Project Coordinator
39 Management Consultant
If you carry any of the 40 Management Consultants
following job titles, 41 Managing Consultant

42 Market Analyst
you can always 43 Master Data Analyst
sharpen the skills to 44 Metrics Analyst
become an all- 45 MIS Analyst
rounded business 46 Operational Improvement Consultant
analyst.
47 Operations Analyst
48 Operations Specialist
49 Oracle Implementation Consultant
50 Organizational Change Consultant
51 Package Implementation Consultant
52 PEGA Consultant
53 Performance Analyst
54 PMO Analyst
55 Portfolio Analyst

56 Pre-Sales Analyst
57 Pre-Sales Consultant
58 Problem Analyst
59 Problem Manager
60 Process Analyst
61 Process Architect
62 Process Coordinator Many professionals
63 Process Engineer perform tasks related
64 Process Evangelist to business analysis
65 Process Improvement Consultant but do not carry the
job title of business
analyst.
66 Process Improvement Expert
67 Process Owner
68 Product Analyst
69 Product Director
70 Product Manager
71 Product Owner
72 Product Support Analyst
73 Programmer Analyst
74 Project Manager
75 Quality Assurance Analysts

76 Reporting Analyst
77 Requirements Analyst
78 Requirements Engineer
79 Research Analyst
80 Research Executive
81 Salesforce Consultant
82 SAP Consultant
83 SAP Implementation Consultant
If you carry any of the 84 Senior Consultant

85 Senior Software Engineer
following job titles,
86 Software Analyst
you can always
87 Software Development Manager
sharpen the skills to 88 Solution Advisor
become an all- 89 Solution Designer
90 Strategy Consultant
rounded business 91 Strategy Officer
analyst. 92 Subject Matter Expert
93 Systems Analyst
94 Systems Architect
95 Team Leader
96 Technical Analyst
97 Technical Communications Analyst
98 Technical Data Analyst

99 Technical Leader
100 Technical Writers
101 Usability Analyst
102 User Experience (UX) Analyst
103 User Experience Designer

What Does A
Business Analyst
Do
What does a Business Analyst do?
Business Analysis has emerged as one of the
core business practices in the 21st century.
The role of a business analyst is ever-
expanding.To solve some of the problems in
their existing business processes.
Business analysts work with the project team

A business analyst is to perform a variety of tasks. They
not limited to doing understand the organization’s business
processes relevant to the project’s goals and
one thing. A business document those processes. Documentation
analyst often wears involves diagrams modeling to figure out
how the actual work differs from established
many hats.
policy, procedures and protocols.
A business analyst is also responsible for

discovering the actual needs of stakeholders
and not just what they desire.

• Then the business analyst

participates in requirements
gathering and succeeds in
producing details after a long
discussion. The business
analyst is critical to a project’s A business analyst is
success because he or she has someone who analyses
an understanding of both the
the organization and
business side and the technical
side of things.
design of technical
systems, business
models, processes and
strategic business needs.

1. Help to facilitate a solution for the current or

future problem business face.
2. Work with stakeholders to define their

business needs and extract their requirements
for what must be delivered
3. Gather the business’ required conditions and

In a nutshell role capabilities, documenting them in a
of a business consistent, complete and, above all, useful
way for the team that will eventually design
analyst as follows and deliver the solution.
4. Ensure these requirements are visible and

understood by, all relevant stakeholders
regardless of whether the solution is a new
product, service or computer system.
5. Work closely with key business decision-

makers as well as development and testing
teams, to ensure the solution developed will
meet the business’ requirements in an
acceptable and sustainable way.

Adaptive US
Business Analyst
Roles and Responsibilities

What Are the Roles and
Responsibilities of a Business Analyst?
The key responsibilities of business analysts
are to locate business opportunities and
inefficiencies and provide recommendations
(principally through implementing IT and
technological solutions).
The Key Role Although the role of a Business Analyst will

vary dramatically from industry to industry
of a Business and from company to company, some key
Analyst. roles a business analyst performs are:
• Understand the problems and goals of

the enterprise
• Analyze needs and solution
• Devise change strategies
• Drive change
• Facilitate stakeholder collaboration

Requirements management is one of the
core skills a business analyst is expected to
possess. Managing requirements both at
the project level and organization level are
vital in fulfilling business needs.
Business analysts take lead in the following

key activities:
Requirements are the
• Assisting with evaluating the business core of the business
case for the proposed change
analyst’s role.
• Planning and monitoring
• Eliciting requirements
• Requirements organization
• Translating and simplifying

requirements
• Requirements management and

communication
• Requirements analysis

Skilled business analysts also use
requirements to drive the design or review
of test cases, process change requests, and
manage a project’s scope, acceptance,
installation, and deployment.
Today’s business analyst works in a

multifaceted world. In order to meet all the
Successful business
business needs a business analyst has to
analysts tend to be act as a mediator, moderator, connector
clear and ambassador. They are the bridge that
fills in the gap between each department
communicators, throughout every step of development.
smooth facilitators, • A Business Analyst works with business
precise analyzers to identify opportunities for
improvement in business operations
and team players.
and processes
• A business analyst interacts with the

business stakeholders and subject
matter experts in order to understand
their problems and needs.
• A business analyst has to interact with

system architects and software
developers to ensure that the solution
is properly implemented

Adaptive US
How to Become a
Business Analyst
How to Become a Business Analyst
How do I switch over to a BA role? All BA
jobs advertised require prior experience.
How do I make the transition?
Will any certification help me for the

transition?
Most BA certifications have prior experience

eligibility criteria. I don't have any :(.
I want to pursue a I am in a fix–what should I do to make my

dream true?
career in the Business
Analysis field. I am very I am a software developer / testing / QA /
banking professional and doing some part of
excited about it and BA work, I would like to move into a full-
keen to pursue it fledged Business analysis career, can you help
me with this?”
further. But I am in a
Often professionals find it difficult to join the
different role and I don’t
BA professionals even though they may have
have prior experience in a good industry experience and knowledge.
Business analysis. Some suggestions/points to follow if you are
also in this situation
You can become a Business Analyst without

BA experience.

1. If you are not from software field,

please complete the Free Software
Engineering course from Adaptive US.
2. Read a primer on IT Business Analysis -

Intro to IT Business Analysis
3. If you don’t have much business

experience, please read Handbook of
Business.
Following the below
4. All these books are also available as mentioned steps, we
part of Adaptive Inner Circle product
which provides comprehensive BA assure you that you
books, templates, and tools training. will see yourself in a
Adaptive Inner Circle starts at $49 per
month.
promising and bright
BA career.
5. Take a BA Fundamentals training.
Training can enable you achieve
competency in 2 months which may
take a year or more if you try on your
own.
6. Learn the modeling tools

(diagramming tools) and Requirement
management tools such as Jira.
7. Try focus on a couple of domains.

8. Look for BA internship / shadowing

options.
9. Observe your organizational processes

which can be improved using software
solutions.
10. Get involved in the requirements

gathering process proactively
11. Take proactive measures to talk to Begin your BA career

stakeholders/users. journey today. Register
12. Show interest, gather knowledge and free at
be proactive to be part of the
requirements gathering and
AdaptiveUS.com/SuXe
documentation process. ed
13. Try to understand the existing system
and the new proposed system, the
overall objective of the project and the
big picture.
14. Get involved in the

user/implementation training
15. Most important start thinking more

like a business user (business mode of
thinking) and stop thinking like a
developer or a tester (solution mode
of thinking)

16. Take lead/active part in any

process/requirement changes in the
project/account.
17. Follow some great leaders in the industry

that you are in.
18. Join Professional groups on Business

Analysis and try to follow the discussions,
Successful business participate in forums and conferences
analysts tend to be which can help you enhance your career in
the new field
clear
19. Keep pursuing your goal and be focused
communicators,
on your goal/objective.
great facilitators,
20. Be open to learning and make learning
precise analyzers your objective for every day.
and team players.

Adaptive US
Business Analyst
Qualifications
Business Analyst
Qualifications
According to IIBA’s Business Analysis Body of
Knowledge v3.0 (BABoK®),
Business analysis is the practice of enabling

change in an enterprise by defining needs
and recommending solutions that deliver
value to stakeholders. Business analysts,
therefore, understand the problems and
While entering the goals of an enterprise, analyze needs and
solutions, devise change strategies, drive
field of business change, collaborate with stakeholders and
analysis, a broad also advise organizations on improving
efficiency, finances, and various other
understanding of aspects of the business.
businesses and specific A good understanding of technology and

business will enable a business analyst to be
knowledge of business successful in his/her career as the role
involves a lot of interaction with the
processes is desirable. business side as well as the technical side.
When it comes to business analyst

qualification, a bachelor’s degree is
desirable. Organizations may prefer
candidates in business administration or
related degrees for entry-level positions, but
it is not really mandatory. A bachelor’s
degree in business administration includes
knowledge in communication, accounting,
business, law, and other specialized streams.
Occasionally employers also prefer
candidates with a Master’s degree.

Business Analyst
Qualifications
Many successful BA’s have started their

careers in any department of the
organization like - business
management, human resources, The most popular route
information technology, or related fields
and gain work experience. Once they into business analysis
have gained enough professional
experience, candidates can apply for
without a degree is to
entry-level positions as business transfer from a role in a
analysts.
related field.
Along with a degree and experience,
getting a Business Analyst certification
carries a lot of weight with
organizations and also helps the
candidate to acquire the requisite
knowledge and meet their professional
goal.
A certified business analyst has a

broader perspective of the BA
techniques and approaches. It also
shows commitment, as preparing for
these certifications and clearing the
exam is not an easy task. Organizations
also recognize individuals for the hard
work and commitment which the
candidate has put into it.

Adaptive US
Business
Analyst
Career
Paths
Business Analyst
Qualifications
Business Analyst Career Paths
Business analysis is a very versatile space. It offers

numerous career paths for its practitioners. In this
article, we have described common career paths that
are suitable for business analysts. Here is a very broad
guideline for the career progressions for Business
analysts.

Four common career paths BAs can
pursue are:
1. Business analysis
2. Product management
Person’s interest,
domain/technical
3. Project management
knowledge, interest to
4. Consulting
learn new concepts, and
If you are risk-taking and open to
learning new concepts/domains you
risk-taking ability which
can change your domain and move determines largely the
to a new field and establish yourself
career progress.
to be a good player in the field. This
gives you good exposure and
makes your career prospects
broader. That makes you a good
candidate for a senior executive
position.

If you love what you are good at and
aim to become an expert in the same
without changing gears then you can
master your domain including getting
into other areas in the same domain.
This can include having a good hold on There is no better

the tools and products prevalent in the time than now to
domain. This can make you a great start something
specialist and unique in the field, which good.
is invaluable for your career.
You can make yourself a great consultant

in a particular field and can think of
working with multiple clients to give
them a part of your time and expert
guidance.
In return, this gives you the flexibility and

the rich experience of working with
multiple clients.

Where To Learn Business Analysis?
Here’s are some top eLearning websites
where you can find various free online
Business Analysis courses to learn. Check
these online platforms offering various
training to make a tour Business Analysis
career.
• Adaptive US
Learning is not
• edX
mandatory.
• Udemy
Neither is
IT Masters
•
survival.

Adaptive US
Top Business Analysis

Certifications
Top Business Analysis Certifications
The following business analysis certifications
provided by three institutions, namely, IIBA, PMI,
IREB, and BCS are the best certifications
available to professionals-
IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis)
• ECBA
BA certifications differ • CBAP®
based on their • CCBA®
eligibility criteria, the • AAC

CBDA
focus area of the •
• CCA
certification, and the
• CPOA
cost of the
PMI (Project Management Institute)
certifications.
• PMI-PBA®
IREB (International Requirements Engineering
Board)
• CPRE-FL
• CPRE-AL
• CPRE-EL
BCS
• BCS Foundation Level

Entry Level BA Certifications
While entering the field of business analysis,
a broad understanding of business analysis
tasks and techniques is the prerequisite.
Undergoing a training program and
attempting the certifications listed below
would not only give you a solid foundation
to establish your BA career but also prove to
your prospective employers that you have
taken a step ahead to show your
commitment to the BA profession, in terms Entry level certifications
of acquiring BA skills and getting certified.
can be taken without any
ECBA from IIBA
business analysis
The Entry certificate in Business Analysis, experience.
ECBA, is the first level of certification by
IIBA. ECBA certification is ideal for
individuals entering the field of business
analysis. ECBA recognizes individuals ready
to develop their business analysis skills,
knowledge, and behaviors, to join the
business analysis profession.

Entry Level BA Certifications
CPRE-FL Certification from IREB
The CPRE-FL certification is designed for

those working in requirements
engineering (RE), Business Analysis and
Testing. The IREB Certification Model
consists of three subsequent levels. The
CPRE Foundation Level covers the
fundamentals of the Requirements
Engineering domain, methodology, and The content of this course
available techniques. This certification has
includes information on
lifetime validity.
how to analyze and
BCS Foundation Certificate in Business
Analysis
model business activities,
identify potential
BCS Foundation Certificate in Business
Analysis covers a range of fundamental solutions, and analyze
knowledge needed for a business analysis
stakeholder perspectives.
role. This includes the roles and
competencies required as well as strategic
analysis, business system, process
modeling, and business case
development.

Mid-level BA Certifications
For professionals who have a few years of
BA experience, a good understanding of
technology and business will enable them
to be successful in their careers.
Certifications like CCBA, AAC, and CBDA
will help you with this.
CCBA from IIBA

CCBA certification is
The Certification of Capability in Business
Analysis (CCBA) is the 2nd level of
appropriate for business
professional certifications by IIBA for analysts with 2-3 years
business analysis practitioners. It is highly
of experience, who are
valued in the BA industry as it emphasizes
your work experience, personal keen to expand their
development, competencies, and up-to-
skillsets and climb the
date knowledge of the latest industry
trends and developments. BA career ladder.

CPRE-AL Certification from IREB
The prerequisite for the CPRE-Advanced

Level certification is having obtained the
certificate of the previous level, i.e., CPRE-
FL.
The CPRE Advanced Level stands for

mastering and using methods and
techniques. There are four choices for
achieving an Advanced Level certificate:
● Requirements Elicitation
CPRE AL requires one to
complete CPRE FL.
● Requirements Modeling
● Requirements Management
● RE@Agile
As with the Foundation Level certificate,

the Advance Level certification has lifetime
validity. The prices for the certification are
fixed by the Certification Bodies and vary
depending on the country.

AAC from IIBA
IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (AAC) is the

IIBA-AAC recognizes first agile certification provided by IIBA. IIBA
Agile Analysis Certification examination is ideal
one’s ability to for Agile Business analysts, BA Consultants,
effectively execute Trainers, Project Managers, Testers, etc.
analysis related work in There are no eligibility experience requirements

an agile context. or any other pre-requisites for this exam.
However, IIBA recommends it for BA
Earning this professionals with 2-3 years of Agile-related
certification provides experience.
potential employers, a CBDA from IIBA
clearer indication of the IIBA recently launched a Certification in

competencies that one Business Data Analytics. This is a level 2
certification intended for those with 2-3 years
has developed. of experience and those are experienced with
core BA skills.
Earning this certification informs employers of

your passion for and competencies performing
business analysis on analytics initiatives. The
certification helps identify skilled business data
analytics professionals to organizations seeking
these in-demand skills.

PMI-PBA Certification
The PMI-PBA certification is best suited for

business analysts who work with projects or
programs, or project and program
managers who work with analytics. It’s
offered through the Project Management
Institute. The certification focuses on
business analysis training through hands-on
projects and testing on business analysis
If you want to advance
principles, tools, and fundamentals. your business analyst
CBAP from IIBA career, or change career
Certified Business Analysis Professional paths, these globally
(CBAP) is the 3rd level of professional recognized certifications
certification by IIBA for business analysis
practitioners and is the most sought-after
will help prove your
certification for senior business analysts to mettle.
excel in the corporate world. CBAP
certification has proven results in terms of
salary benefits, career growth and opening
up new opportunities in the global markets.
The CBAP certification examination needs
one to understand BABoK in-depth and
applying BABoK concepts to various
business analysis scenarios.

CPRE-EL Certification from IREB
The Expert Level of the CPRE certification

stands for the highest level of expert
knowledge, which comprises practical Business analysis works
experience as well as outstanding
knowledge and skills in Requirements
as a credential for a
Engineering. business analyst
The prerequisite for the CPRE-EL professional. Formal
certification is having obtained the recognition from a
certificate of the previous level, i.e., CPRE-
AL. reputed and authorized
As with the previous levels, the Advance
body differentiates an
Level certification has lifetime validity. The individual in the market
prices for the certification are fixed by the
in terms of both skills and
Certification Bodies and vary depending
on the country. salary.

Adaptive US
Business
Analysis

Business Analysis Career FAQ
I am a Developer / Ans. Of course, Yes. If you are a self-

motivated professional with strong analytical
Tester / Tech Writer/ skills, excellent written and verbal
Banker/ QA/ PMO communication skills plus the ability to work
well with employees at all levels of an
Analyst/ Credit
organization, a business analyst position is a
Analyst, can I become great fit for you irrespective of the current
role. Few steps that will help you with this
a Business Analyst?
shift are - Learning BA tools, processes,
domain, learning basic business terms/
acronyms/ jargons, hone your behavioral
skills and take the ECBA training, and
certification.
Ans. Yes. it is completely possible for a non-

engineering professional to become a
I don’t have business analyst. Business analyst is a person
who analyzes and documents the market
engineering degree;
environment, processes, or systems of
can I be a Business businesses. They help businesses improve
their processes, products, services, and
Analyst?
software through data analysis and software
and for this an engineering degree is not
required.

Ans. Yes. A couple of things that will help you

get ahead in this direction even though you
don't have any experience:
I don’t have any work
experience; can I be a Taking the ECBA training and certification will
help you to enter the BA field. You can also
Business Analyst?
learn the BA process, modeling and
diagramming tools and the domain of your
interest a little deeper. You can also look for
internship opportunities (even if it's unpaid it
will surely help you to get ahead in this
direction.
Ans. Average salary as per IIBA 2020 salary

survey is as follows: -
USA- $104K+
How much can I earn
Canada-$80K+
as a Business Analyst?
UK-$83K+
India-$15K+
Australia-$99K+

Ans. Becoming a business analyst may

Are certifications require gaining skills and credentials
mandatory for applicable to the business analysis. Hence.to
grab that dream BA job, there's no better way
becoming a Business
than to be prepared, get skilled, certified and
Analyst? project your capabilities in the professional
environment.
Can I not learn Ans. Crossing over to the role of business

Business Analysis on analysis demands you to learn and hone new
skills and tools. Without expert guidance,
my own? coaching and mentoring to learn and
understand business analysis in depth, one
may take years to learn the domain.

Ans. Becoming a business analyst may

Is Domain Knowledge
require gaining skills and credentials
mandatory for applicable to the business analysis. Hence.to
grab that dream BA job, there's no better way
becoming a Business
than to be prepared, get skilled, certified and
Analyst? project your capabilities in the professional
environment.
Can I not learn Ans. Crossing over to the role of business

Business Analysis on analysis demands you to learn and hone new
skills and tools. Without expert guidance,
my own? coaching and mentoring to learn and
understand business analysis in depth, one
may take years to learn the domain.

Ans. As an entry level business analyst, you

are not expected to possess domain
Is it mandatory to learn knowledge. But you must focus on gaining
a domain to become a domain knowledge as you start working as
a business analyst as BA is the backbone of
BA? the growth and advancement of the
organization.
Ans. Yes. You can go for IIBA ECBA

certification which is the most
I am in college; can I prominent among BA certifications.
prepare for Business ECBA caters to those professionals
Analysis certification? who would be making an entry or
begin their career in the business
analysis domain while they are in
college. It focuses on those
knowledge areas of the business
analysis domain which are going to
be of use for the new business
analysts, such as requirements
analysis, requirements lifecycle
management, elicitation, and
collaboration.

Conclusion
If you are looking for better career

opportunities in 2021, after your degree in
management or degree in engineering,
consider getting trained and certified in
Irrespective of the Business Analysis to get into any of the
industry, qualified Business Analysis job profiles listed above.
professionals are Business Analysts are always in demand.
Irrespective of the industry, qualified
always needed to
professionals are always needed to manage
manage changes. changes.
Due to a widening gap between the need

for skilled Business Analysts & their
availability across the globe, employers and
organizations are looking for experienced
Business analysis professionals.
So, get ready for an exciting career journey

ahead!

Stuck In Your
BA Career?

Not Getting Paid
Enough as a BA?

Struggling to Find
a BA Job?

If Your Answer is
YES
to any of the
Above Questions..
You are the right

place!

#BUSINESS ANALYSTS
How to Achieve
Your Dream Salary, Job and Career

For Taking
An Important Step
Towards An
Awesome BA Career

What has stopped Thousands of
BAs From Earning a Top Salary,
Getting Dream Jobs and an
Awesome BA Career?

4 Key Ingredients For An
Awesome BA Career
BA
Knowledge
BA Training +
BA Certification
Personal
Branding
BA Skills –
Tools &
Templates
BA Resources
+ BA Guidance
Mentoring

How Adaptive Training and IIBA®
Certification helped one of our
students in times of COVID 19
1070+

Another recent success story
1070+
Adaptive US
100% Success. Or 100% Refund.

By the time you finish the book, you’ll know
what it takes to:
▪ Stand out in the crowd with BA Training
and certification
▪ IIBA certification process & best tips
▪ Adaptive BA Offerings and Resources
▪ Q&A
Why Be Trained And
Certified?
1. Trained and certified BAs on
average earn 20% more*
2. Faster career growth
3. Higher confidence at work
4. Greater job satisfaction
*2020 IIBA® Annual Salary Survey

About IIBA®
• International Institute of Business
Analysis (www.iiba.org)
• World’s #1 BA Association
• Focuses on improving BA practices in
organizations globally
• 30000+ registered members

What Our Students Have Achieved
bit.ly/adaptive-training-performance
*2020 Adaptive US LinkedIn Performance Survey

Focus of IIBA® Certifications
Cert. Suitable for
ECBA Aspiring BAs and Junior BAs with <

2.5 years experience
CCBA Middle Level BAs with > 2.5 years of

experience Core
Certifications
CBAP Senior BAs with > 5 years of
experience
AAC Demonstrate proficiency in Agile

Business Analysis
CBDA Demonstrate proficiency in data

analytics
Specialized
Certifications
CCA Demonstrate proficiency in cyber
security
CPOA Demonstrate proficiency in Product

Ownership Analysis

Core Certifications Requirements
Aspect ECBATM CCBA® CBAP®
Education No requirements ☺
BA Work None 3750 Hours in last 7 7500 Hours in

Experiences years last 10 years. 4
2 KAs above 900 KAs above 900
hours / 4 KAs above hours
500 hours
Prof. Dev. 21 hours in past 4 years 35 hours in past

Hours 4 years
References None 2 references from career manager,

client or an existing CBAP®. One of your
references should ideally know you for
at least 6 months
Send your profile to Info@AdaptiveUS.com

For a FREE Expert Review

3 Core Certifications
Aspect ECBATM CCBA® CBAP®
Guidebook BABoK® V3
Fees $239 to $309 $519 to $589
Exam Info 1 Hour 3 Hours 3.5 Hours
50 Multi- 130 Multi- 120 Multi-choice

choice choice
Scenario and
Knowledge Scenario Based Case Based
Based Questions Questions
Questions
Prep. Effort 60 to 80 80 to 120 Hours 100 to 150 Hours

Hours

4 Specialized Certifications
Aspect CPOA AAC CBDA CCA
Education, Work Exp, References – No requirements ☺
PD Hours - 21 Hours recommended
Guidebook Guide to Agile IIBA Cyber-

Product Extension Analytics security
Ownership Guide Guide Guide
Analysis
Fees (For $250 $250 $450 $350

Members)
Exam Type 1.5 Hours 2 Hours 2 Hours 1.5 Hours

(MCQ) 60 85 75 75
Questions Questions Questions Questions
Prep Effort - 60 to 80 hours

Exam Prep Tips!

Test Exclusions
• For all standards
• Perspectives (80 Pages)
• For ECBA only
• Strategy Analysis (33 Pages) and Solution
Evaluation (22 Pages)
• For CCBA and CBAP only

• Underlying competencies (30 pages)
Adaptive Study Guides DO NOT contain

out of scope items ☺
Know BA tasks
• Know purpose of each knowledge

area and each task
• Remember tasks in KAs
• Understand typical BA flow
• Keep Adaptive US mind-map in

mind
• Understand key inputs and outputs
We tabularized the tasks info for easy

understanding.
Let’s have a look at the Tasks Mind-map in

SuXeed
Know BABoK KAs and Tasks

Understand techniques
• Know the key strength of each technique
• For CBAP, know modeling
• Activity
• Data
• State
• Use case
• Adaptive provides a mapping between

60 situations and likely techniques
We removed duplicate info among techniques
Let’s have a look at the Techniques Mind-map in

SuXeed
Take all practice tests
•Take all chapter end practice

tests
•Take all simulation tests provided
•Analyze answers provided
•Re-attempt simulations after a
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BUSINSS

This can serve as a good guidebook for both

If you come across any new information that

Adaptive US : 100% Success or 100% refund 2

Any great piece of work is always a team effort! Sincere

Syllabus for CPRE Foundation Level examination, IREB, Germany

Business Analysis, Debra and Paul, British Computer Society

Podeswa, Howard. The Business Analyst's Handbook. Boston: Course Technology,

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1. What is Business Analysis?.................................006

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19. Business Analyst Qualifications............................127

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many variations – The 1. To solve some of the problems in

Data Analysis “Business Analysis is the practice of

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“Business analysis is a research discipline of

Investigating business systems with a holistic

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per a 2020 LinkedIn

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Business Analysis is essential because it

According to past studies, approximately 60

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Developers implement whatever the

Symptoms for inadequate business analysis

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Complete and correct requirements are the

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Listed below are some more convincing

The most important benefits of Business

• Correct selection of business needs Business analysis has

• Proactive Risk Management

• Higher capital productivity

• Improved customer satisfaction

• Improved organizational capabilities and

• Finally, Better business outcomes.

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The report also states that business

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• By 2025, there’ll be a need to fill

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• There are plenty of opportunities for

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Business analysts are change enablers. If

business needs, business Top 5 characteristics of a Business

3. Has eye for details

4. Good understanding of business and

5. Great analysis skills

When may you not want to be a business

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Here are few situations when you may not

1. You have strong technical bent of mind

2. You want to be an individual contributor

3. Have strong interest in non-business

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According to the IIBA these are some of

• Written and oral communication skills

• Consultative and interpersonal skills

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