2. Business Analysis Techniques Flashcards
Name 3 investigation techniques
Interviews Workshops Observation Shadowing Questionnaires Document analysis Focus groups Sampling Special purpose records Scenarios Prototyping
Name 2 pros and cons of;
Interviews
Workshops
Interviews - Biased - Time consuming \+ Build rapport \+ Detail
Workshops - Disruptive to workplace - Difficult to bring everything together \+ Gain a consensus \+ Buy in and acceptance \+ Creative atmosphere
Name 2 pros and cons of;
Observation
Focus groups
Observation
- Observation affect - Not carrying out a task as your truly would due to being observed
- Distracting to BAU
+ Verification of understanding and findings
+ Less disruptive to business than workshops
+ Good way of gathering tactic knowledge
Focus groups - Results often influenced by researcher - Participants may hold back in their response \+ Interactive group setting \+ Gain opinions/feedback \+ Supplement other techniques
Name 2 pros and cons of;
Questionnaires
Document Analysis
Questionnaires
- Low response rate
- Difficult to design without influence and to be understood by all
+ Widely dispersed, no geographical barriers
+ Anonymous responses
+ Can target large numbers
Document analysis - Out of date - May not be being followed by business \+ Supplement other techniques \+ Less disruptive to business
Name a technique used to document existing business situations
As is process mapping, problem statements, background information all form business case and highlight areas for change
What is Stakeholder Analysis
Having identified Stakeholders we need to assess the weight of their issues, no stakeholders should be ignored however the approach to each will be different.
This is due to their Level of interest in the project and their level of power/influence over it. e.g. Project sponsor, influence high, interest may be high. End user influence may be low/some however interest is most likely high
Name a Technique used to identify Stakeholders
Stakeholder Wheel is used to identify the stakeholders that are internal to the organisations as well as external. It helps as a check list to identify and categorise the stakeholders under eight generic categories. Partners, Suppliers, Regulators and legal bodies, Employees, Managers, Owners, Competitors, Customers
Name the categories of a Stakeholder
Partners, Suppliers, Regulators and legal bodies, Employees, Managers, Owners, Competitors, Customers
Business, SME, external
Name a technique to analyse and prioritise stakeholders
Power/interest grid, by mapping stakeholders where they currently are we can then manage them accordingly
or if advantageous to, look at strategies to move them to where would be most successful for our project.
Strategies for on-going stakeholder communication and management
RACI chart by mapping stakeholders by their interest and responsibilities we can track when we need to get them involved, what communications they should receive and be transparent in what we expect from them in terms of involvement.
What benefits are there to understanding the Stakeholder perspective
Identify ‘soft’ issues early in the project.
Business change includes stakeholders, if we understand their perspective we can support and manage them through the change must more effectively
Identify potential for conflicts
Name a technique to analyse a Stakeholder’s perspective
CATWOE is a tool for analysing a Stakeholder’s business perspective on the end result
Customer (Target audience)
Actors (In transfromation)
Transformation (Core processes)
Worldview (What the organisation should be doing and why, BAU not project, Resource + view + objective)
Owner (Key decision maker)
Environmental (PESTLE)
What would you suggest in order to resolve conflicts in stakeholder perspective?
Start by defining the stakeholders perspective if not yet done, utilising CATWOE? Identify the source of conflict, look for commonality in perspectives
Get stakeholders together to discuss in open ground
Workshop
What is the rationale for modelling a conceptual view of activities for a specific perspective
Identify the minimum activities needed in order to implement a business perspective, identify areas not thought about.
New processes required in order to achieve the transformation identified by the stakeholder perspective
Name a technique of modelling a conceptual view of business activities
Business activity modelling
Process modelling is for detail! not for concepts
