Business Analysis For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Ali Cox has decades of experience in business analysis, agile, project methodology development and training, and systems development. As Lead Expert in Business Analysis + Agile for Netmind, she provides training and mentoring for businesses ranging in size from a single team to Fortune 500 companies worldwide.

Introduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Business Analysis 5 Chapter 1: Business Analysis in a Nutshell 7 Chapter 2: Breaking Down Different Levels of Business Analysis 25 Chapter 3: Identifying and Working with Stakeholders 37 Part 2: The BA Toolkit: Tools, Terms, and Techniques 61 Chapter 4: Talking about Tools of the Trade 63 Chapter 5: Understanding What Requirements Truly Entail 85 Chapter 6: Hunting for the Right Information, Part 1: The Process 109 Chapter 7: Hunting for the Right Information, Part 2: The Techniques 127 Chapter 8: Uncovering and Analyzing Needs 161 Part 3: Selling the Plan and Keeping It on Track 185 Chapter 9: Making the (Business) Case 187 Chapter 10: Creating and Maintaining Scope 209 Chapter 11: Creating Your Work Plan 235 Part 4: Achieving Goals with Business Analysis 263 Chapter 12: Defining Solutions, Part 1: Taking a Closer Look at Your Requirements 265 Chapter 13: Defining Solutions, Part 2: Choosing the Right Analysis Technique 281 Chapter 14: Verifying and Validating Solutions 321 Chapter 15: Transition: Moving from Planning to Implementing 347 Part 5: The Part of Tens 361 Chapter 16: Ten Ways to Keep Your Business Analysis Skills Sharp 363 Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Prepare Yourself for a New Project 371 Chapter 18: Ten Experts Chime In 379 Index 391