PC-BA-FBA-20 Exam Dumps - BCS Business Analysis Questions and Answers

Design thinking is a human-centered, iterative approach used to uncover innovative solutions by focusing on user needs and exploring multiple possibilities. It emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and experimentation.

Key Characteristics of Techniques:

Design Thinking: Uses an iterative process (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) to generate innovative options.

Fishbone Diagram: A root cause analysis tool, not focused on innovation.

Rich Pictures: A visual representation of a situation, useful for understanding context but not for generating innovative options.

Mind Maps: A brainstorming tool that organizes ideas hierarchically, but it does not inherently follow an iterative approach.

Evaluation of Each Option:

A. Design thinking:Design thinking explicitly uses an iterative approach to uncover innovative options.Conclusion: This is correct .

B. Fishbone diagram:Fishbone diagrams focus on identifying root causes, not innovation.Conclusion: This is not correct .

C. Rich pictures:Rich pictures visualize complex situations but do not inherently foster innovation.Conclusion: This is not correct .

D. Mind maps:Mind maps organize ideas but do not follow an iterative, innovative process like design thinking.Conclusion: This is not correct .

Final Recommendation:

The technique that uses an iterative approach to uncover innovative options is:

A. Design thinking.

In an iterative or Agile lifecycle, requirements are not defined entirely upfront but are explored and refined just-in-time, immediately prior to implementation. The stage where the detailed solution requirements (functional and non-functional) are elaborated, modeled, and defined—ready for construction—is the Develop solution stage (often referred to as the Implementation or Construction phase of an iteration/sprint). The detailed work of defining, modelling, and validating the specific requirements happens as a preparatory step for the actual build, distinguishing it from the preceding planning phase (C) or the upstream strategic work (A, B).

(Reference: BCS Requirements Engineering – Lifecycle Models, Iterative Development)

Requirements documentation generally follows two main styles: text-based and diagrammatic (or model-based).

Data model (A), Use case model (C), and Business process models (D - e.g., UML Activity Diagrams or BPMN) are all forms of diagrammatic documentation, using standardised graphical notation to express requirements.

A User story (B) is a short, simple, text-based statement written in the format: "As a [role], I want [goal] so that [benefit]". It is a form of text-based requirement documentation used primarily in Agile environments, not a diagrammatic style.

(Reference: BCS Requirements Engineering – Documentation Styles)

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To build an enterprise view of processes , we need a framework that provides a holistic understanding of how value is created and delivered across the organization.

Key Considerations:

Class Model: Represents objects and their relationships in software development, not enterprise processes.

Swimlane Diagram: Visualizes workflows and responsibilities within a process but does not provide an enterprise-wide view.

Value Chain Analysis: Analyzes the activities that create value for customers, providing a comprehensive view of enterprise processes.

Porter’s Five Forces Model: Analyzes industry competition and external factors, not internal processes.

Evaluation of Each Option:

A. Class model:A class model is used in object-oriented design and does not represent enterprise processes.Conclusion: This is not correct .

B. Swimlane diagram:While swimlane diagrams visualize workflows, they focus on specific processes rather than an enterprise-wide view.Conclusion: This is not correct .

C. Value chain analysis:Value chain analysis examines the activities that contribute to value creation, making it ideal for building an enterprise view of processes.Conclusion: This is correct .

D. Porter’s five forces model:This model analyzes external competitive forces and does not focus on internal processes.Conclusion: This is not correct .

The actor-task level is the lowest and most detailed level of the business process hierarchy. Its purpose is to show the sequence of actions and decisions taken by specific actors to complete a process. It effectively illustrates the work conducted within each individual task (often referred to as the procedure or work instruction). This level details how the work is performed.

Option A describes the Event-Response level (mid-level).

Option C is only part of the description—the actor is crucial, but the level shows the tasks they perform.

Option D describes the trigger for the Event-Response level.

(Reference: BCS Modelling Business Processes / BCS Business Analysis Practice – Business Process Hierarchy)

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The Stakeholder Wheel (or Stakeholder Interest Groupings) is a model used to categorize stakeholders in the strategic analysis phase, particularly for external environment analysis. This technique groups stakeholders based on their primary relationship to the organisation. The key groups included in the stakeholder wheel are Suppliers, Customers, Competitors, Partners, Owners (Shareholders), Regulators/Government, Media, and Employees/Trade Unions. Based on the options provided, the group that contains three valid, distinct categories from this standard model is Regulators, Auditors, Owners. While 'Auditors' can be considered part of the 'Regulators' or 'Owners' (depending on their role), and 'Owners' are often Shareholders, this option best reflects the high-level external interest groups used for broad strategic categorization compared to the internal focus of B or the mixed categories of A and C. The inclusion of Regulators and Owners is essential for any strategic stakeholder analysis.

(Reference: BCS Business Analysis Practice – Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Wheel)

The Requirements Catalogue (or the Requirements Specification section) is the comprehensive, organised list of all types of requirements. Technical Requirements are the non-functional constraints placed on the solution's design or build (e.g., specific hardware, operating system compatibility, integration protocols). While these inform other models, they are typically documented and tracked with other requirements (Functional and Non-functional) in the master Requirements Catalogue, often within the Non-functional or System Requirements section of the catalogue structure. Options A, B, and C are supporting documents or models, not the primary repository for a list of technical requirements.

(Reference: BCS Requirements Engineering – Requirements Catalogue Structure)

One of the key principles of business analysis is to present stakeholders with options rather than prescribing a single solution. This approach ensures that stakeholders can make informed decisions based on their priorities and constraints.

Key Principles of Business Analysis:

Present Options Not Solutions: Business analysts should provide multiple viable options, allowing stakeholders to choose the best course of action.

Understand Symptoms: While understanding symptoms is important, it is part of problem analysis, not a key principle.

Focus on Requirements Definition Only: Business analysis encompasses more than just defining requirements; it includes understanding problems, analyzing options, and ensuring value delivery.

Integrate IT Changes: While integrating IT changes is valuable, it is not a universal principle of business analysis.

Evaluation of Each Option:

A. Present options not solutions:This is a fundamental principle of business analysis, emphasizing stakeholder choice.Conclusion: This is correct .

B. Understand the symptoms of the problem being defined:Understanding symptoms is part of problem analysis but not a standalone principle.Conclusion: This is not correct .

C. Focus on requirements definition only:Business analysis involves more than just requirements definition.Conclusion: This is not correct .

D. Integrate IT changes together with project requirements to improve efficiency:While integration is valuable, it is not a universal principle of business analysis.Conclusion: This is not correct .

The T-shaped professional model is used in business analysis to describe the ideal mix of skills and knowledge. The 'T' shape consists of a vertical bar and a horizontal bar. The vertical bar represents the deep and specific domain knowledge or core expertise (e.g., business analysis techniques, specific industry knowledge). The horizontal bar (the top of the 'T') represents the multi-disciplinary breadth of skill and knowledge that an individual can apply to various situations. This breadth includes soft skills like communication, facilitation, leadership, and a broad understanding of different business areas (like finance, operations, IT, and strategy). It is this breadth that allows the business analyst to collaborate effectively across different teams and disciplines, understand the context of the change, and recommend truly holistic solutions.

(Reference: BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis / BCS Business Analysis Practice – Competencies of a Business Analyst)

Traceability links requirements to other project artefacts. There are two main types: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal traceability (Option A) links a requirement forward to its design, code, and test cases, and backward to its source (Option D), tracing its lifecycle from inception to delivery. Vertical traceability concerns tracing a requirement up or down the requirements hierarchy (C). This ensures that lower-level requirements (e.g., functional) are aligned with and fully support the higher-level business objectives, policies, and strategy. For example, it traces a solution requirement up to the business requirement it satisfies, validating that every low-level detail is necessary and justified by a high-level business need.

(Reference: BCS Requirements Engineering – Requirements Traceability)