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

The hierarchy of requirements organizes requirements into levels (e.g., business needs, stakeholder requirements, solution requirements) to ensure alignment and traceability. Let’s evaluate each statement to determine which is false .

Key Characteristics of the Requirements Hierarchy:

Linking Requirements: The hierarchy ensures that detailed requirements are connected to higher-level business needs and objectives.

Order of Development: The hierarchy does not dictate the sequence in which requirements should be developed; it focuses on relationships and dependencies.

Driven by Strategy: Requirements are derived from the organization's values, strategy, and objectives.

Traceability: The hierarchy links different types of requirements to ensure consistency and alignment.

Evaluation of Each Statement:

A. The requirements hierarchy enables detailed requirements to be linked to the business need:This is true; the hierarchy ensures traceability between high-level and detailed requirements.Conclusion: This is true .

B. The requirements hierarchy shows the order in which requirements should be developed:The hierarchy does not specify the development order; it focuses on relationships and dependencies.Conclusion: This is false .

C. Requirements are driven by the organisation's values, strategy and objectives:This is true; requirements must align with organizational goals.Conclusion: This is true .

D. The requirements hierarchy links different requirements to each other:This is true; the hierarchy ensures traceability and alignment across levels.Conclusion: This is true .

Final Recommendation:

The false statement is:

B. The requirements hierarchy shows the order in which requirements should be developed.

In a UML Use Case Diagram, the entities that interact with the system being modeled (the System Boundary) are called Actors. An Actor represents a role played by a user, piece of hardware, or another system. External systems that exchange information with the system being defined are always represented as an actor outside the system boundary, just like human users. This clearly separates the responsibilities of the system under study from all entities and systems that lie outside its scope.

(Reference: BCS Requirements Engineering – Use Case Modelling)

Gap analysis identifies the differences between the current state and the desired future state. To ensure a holistic view, a comprehensive framework like POPIT™ (People, Organization, Process, Information, Technology) is useful.

Key Considerations:

Payback Analysis: Focuses on financial returns and does not provide a holistic view.

POPIT™: Analyzes gaps across multiple dimensions (people, organization, process, information, technology), ensuring a comprehensive perspective.

Boston Box: Evaluates market positioning of products or services, not gaps in organizational capabilities.

PESTLE: Analyzes external environmental factors but does not focus on internal gaps.

Evaluation of Each Option:

A. Payback analysis:Payback analysis focuses on financial metrics and does not address holistic gap analysis.Conclusion: This is not correct .

B. POPIT™:POPIT™ ensures a holistic view by analyzing gaps across people, organization, process, information, and technology.Conclusion: This is correct .

C. Boston box:The Boston box evaluates product portfolios, not organizational gaps.Conclusion: This is not correct .

D. PESTLE:PESTLE analyzes external factors and does not focus on internal gaps.Conclusion: This is not correct .

Final Recommendation:

The technique useful for ensuring a holistic view in gap analysis is:

B. POPIT™.

The power/interest grid is a tool used in stakeholder analysis to categorize stakeholders based on their level of power (influence) and interest in the project. The position of stakeholders on the grid reflects their current status.

Key Considerations:

Where the Stakeholders Will Be After the Proposed Change: The grid represents the current state, not future projections.

Where the Stakeholders Should Be: The grid does not prescribe ideal positions but reflects actual positions.

Where the Stakeholders Actually Are at a Point in Time: The grid is a snapshot of stakeholders' current power and interest levels.

Where the Stakeholders Believe They Should Be: The grid is based on objective analysis, not subjective beliefs.

Evaluation of Each Option:

A. Where the stakeholders will be after the proposed change:The grid reflects the present, not future states.Conclusion: This is not correct .

B. Where the stakeholders should be:The grid does not prescribe ideal positions but reflects actual positions.Conclusion: This is not correct .

C. Where the stakeholders actually are at a point in time:This accurately describes the purpose of the power/interest grid.Conclusion: This is correct .

D. Where the stakeholders believe they should be:The grid is based on objective analysis, not subjective beliefs.Conclusion: This is not correct .

Final Recommendation:

The position of stakeholders on a power/interest grid represents:

C. Where the stakeholders actually are at a point in time.

A process model is a visual representation of a business process or workflow, showing how activities are performed and how they relate to one another. It is commonly used in business analysis to understand, analyze, and improve processes.

Key Characteristics of a Process Model:

Graphical Representation: Process models visually depict workflows and subprocesses, making them easier to understand.

Cost Differences: Cost analysis is not the primary purpose of a process model.

Job Descriptions: Process models focus on workflows, not individual job roles.

Software Features: Informal descriptions of software features are unrelated to process modeling.

Evaluation of Each Option:

A. A graphical representation of a business process or workflow and its related sub-processes:This accurately describes the purpose and nature of a process model.Conclusion: This is correct .

B. The cost differences between how a customer currently does something and how they would like to do something:Cost differences are analyzed separately and are not part of process modeling.Conclusion: This is not correct .

C. The detailed job description of the work to be performed by an individual:Job descriptions are documented separately and are not part of process modeling.Conclusion: This is not correct .

D. An informal, detailed, description of a software system feature derived from an end user's perspective:This describes user stories or feature descriptions, not process models.Conclusion: This is not correct .

The POPIT™ model is a holistic framework used in business analysis to ensure that all aspects of the business system are considered when investigating a situation or implementing a change. The acronym stands for People, Organisation, Processes, Information, and Technology. Therefore, the two 'P' components of the model are People and Processes. 'People' relates to skills, motivation, job roles, and culture. 'Processes' refers to the defined procedures, activities, and tasks carried out to deliver the business service. Ensuring that changes are successful requires addressing all five components, as a change in one area (e.g., a new IT system) invariably impacts the other areas (e.g., the skills of the People, or the Information required).

(Reference: BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis / BCS Business Analysis Practice – Holistic View of the Business System, POPIT Model)

The Business Analysis Service Framework (BASF) identifies six core services provided by a business analyst. These services span the lifecycle of a business change initiative and focus on analysis and enablement activities. The six services are: Situation Investigation and Problem Analysis, Feasibility Assessment and Business Case Development, Business Process Improvement, Requirements Definition, Requirements Management, and Business Change Deployment. The service Solution design and development (which involves the technical building of the IT system) is a distinct project activity typically performed by solution architects and developers and, while the BA collaborates with them closely, it is not one of the core Business Analysis services as defined in the BASF.

(Reference: BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis / BCS Business Analysis Practice – Business Analysis Service Framework (BASF))

The Power/Interest Grid is a tool used to determine appropriate strategies for managing different stakeholder groups based on their level of power (influence) and interest in the project. The grid defines four quadrants, each with a recommended management strategy:

High Power, High Interest: Manage Closely

High Power, Low Interest: Keep Satisfied

Low Power, High Interest: Keep Informed

Low Power, Low Interest: Watch (Minimum effort)

The category of Some Power, Some Interest is generally considered the mid-range or main group of stakeholders. For these individuals, the best strategy is to Keep onside (or Manage Regularly). This strategy means maintaining regular communication, involving them in the project at appropriate times, and ensuring their needs and concerns are addressed so that their interest remains positive and their moderate power does not turn against the project.

(Reference: BCS Business Analysis Practice – Stakeholder Management, Power/Interest Grid)

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An organization chart visually represents the structure of an organization, including roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships. By reviewing the organization chart, Sara can learn specific details about the sponsor of her project.

Key Considerations:

Position in the company hierarchy: The organization chart clearly shows where the sponsor fits within the company’s structure (e.g., senior leadership, middle management). This helps Sara understand their level of authority and influence.

Span of control: The chart also reveals how many teams or individuals report to the sponsor, providing insight into their scope of responsibility and decision-making power.

Culture within their team: While the chart may hint at team structure, it does not provide qualitative information about team culture, which requires direct observation or interviews.

Scope of their responsibilities: The chart outlines reporting lines but does not explicitly detail the specific responsibilities of the sponsor.

Preferred management style: Management style is a behavioral trait that cannot be inferred from an organization chart alone.

Evaluation of Each Option:

A. Their position in the company hierarchy:The organization chart explicitly shows the sponsor's position in the hierarchy, helping Sara understand their level of authority.Conclusion: This is relevant .

B. Their span of control:The chart reveals how many people or teams report to the sponsor, indicating their span of control.Conclusion: This is relevant .

C. The culture within their team:Team culture is not represented in an organization chart. It requires additional qualitative data.Conclusion: This is not relevant .

D. The scope of their responsibilities:While the chart provides structural information, it does not specify the exact responsibilities of the sponsor.Conclusion: This is not relevant .

E. Their preferred management style:Management style cannot be determined from an organization chart.Conclusion: This is not relevant .

The Business Analysis Service Framework (BASF) identifies core and auxiliary services that support business analysis activities. Auxiliary services supplement the core services and are essential for delivering value.

Key Considerations:

Strategic Analysis: Focuses on high-level organizational goals and strategies but is not an auxiliary service.

Stakeholder Engagement: Involves identifying, analyzing, and collaborating with stakeholders, which supports all aspects of business analysis.

Project Management: While important, project management is a separate discipline and not part of the BASF.

External Environment Analysis: Examines external factors (e.g., market trends) but is not an auxiliary service.

Evaluation of Each Option:

A. Strategic analysis:Strategic analysis is a core service, not an auxiliary service.Conclusion: This is not correct .

B. Stakeholder engagement:Stakeholder engagement is an auxiliary service that supports all business analysis activities by ensuring stakeholder needs are understood and addressed.Conclusion: This is correct .

C. Project management:Project management is outside the scope of the BASF.Conclusion: This is not correct .

D. External environment analysis:External environment analysis is a core service, not an auxiliary service.Conclusion: This is not correct .