Professional Business System Analyst: Mastering Business System Analysis

Introduction:

Business Systems Analysis involves the comprehensive identification, evaluation, modeling, and documentation of a business's systemic logic to create effective solutions. This professional course equips students with the tools to distinguish between identifying a business problem and solving it. Participants will be trained in gathering user needs, creating business and data models, and preparing system design and testing specifications. Additionally, the course explores the application of these techniques within the Architecture Framework to ensure clear and complete requirement specifications, fostering a professional business systems orientation.

Objectives:

This business systems analysis training program will transform participants, and by the end of the training, they will:

• Appreciate the various aspects of a business systems analyst's role.
• Develop skills for navigating the phases of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
• Accurately define the system scope.
• Identify and engage the appropriate system stakeholders.
• Create a clear and concise EPC.
• Learn and implement the Architecture Framework.
• Model business components such as data, processes, locations, people, time, and objectives.
• Use various techniques for gathering information.
• Identify both functional and non-functional requirements.
• Draft a comprehensive business requirements document.

Training Methodology:

• Interactive lectures
• Case studies and real-world examples
• Group work sessions and knowledge sharing
• Stakeholder simulation exercises
• Business modeling technique workshops
• Problem-solving using scenario-based methods
• Review of industry best practices
• Tests and assessments

Course Outline:

Unit 1: Introduction to Business Systems Analysis
This unit covers the core role of the business systems analyst, the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), and the multiple dimensions involved in business systems analysis processes.

• Assessing stakeholders in business systems analysis.
• Understanding the interrelationship between SDLC stages.
• Detailed business systems analysis and design procedure.
• Interacting with system users and stakeholders.
• System constraints and delimitations.
• Building a strong case for systems projects.

Unit 2: Modeling the Business
This unit introduces modeling techniques and processes, utilizing the Architecture Framework to structure information requirements and model business processes in business systems analysis.

• Fundamentals of business modeling.
• The importance of the Architecture Framework in business systems analysis.
• Deducting structured data requirements for system development.
• Effective systems analysis and design using business process modeling.

Unit 3: Modeling the Business (Continued)
This unit delves deeper into advanced business modeling topics, including use cases, location dimensions, and integrating business and temporal events.

• Preparing and designing use cases.
• Business modeling considering geographic factors.
• Designing and staffing business forms with assigned tasks.
• Analyzing organizational activities using time as a dimension.
• Identifying key principles underlying business processes.

Unit 4: Gathering Information
This unit enhances participants' communication skills, focusing on techniques for information elicitation, such as interviews, questionnaires, and observation.

• Linguistic competencies of business systems analysts.
• Interviewing techniques that encourage open responses.
• Using surveys to gather extensive information.
• Analytical documentation and observation for comprehensive understanding.
• Conducting JAD-led working meetings to gather information and requirements.

Unit 5: Preparing a Business Requirements Specification
The final unit focuses on writing functional and non-functional system requirements documents, which serve as the foundation for system development.

• Identifying and differentiating between functional and non-functional requirements.
• Techniques for writing specific and actionable requirements.
• Detailed consideration of requirement adequacy.
• Structuring a business requirements document.