Foundation in Business Analysis

This Foundation course introduces the essential BA techniques and is your first step towards the internationally recognised BCS Diploma in Business Analysis.

Who will the Course Benefit?

Junior business analysts or anyone interested in becoming a business analyst and who needs an understanding of the tools and techniques of business analysis. Foundation in Business Analysis is also a Specialist Foundation module on the BCS (ISEB) International Diploma in Business Analysis.

Course Overview

The Foundation in Business Analysis course is the perfect introduction to business analysis, setting you on the road to achieving your Practitioner level BCS BA qualifications.

Using the structure of the business analysis process model, this course introduces some of the most important techniques every Business Analyst needs to know – strategy analysis, investigation techniques, requirements engineering and much, much more.

Each course is presented by one of the expert training consultants, all of whom offer substantial practical knowledge of business analysis.

Exams

Yes. During this three day course you’ll receive all the training you need to prepare for the BCS Foundation in Business Analysis certificate multiple choice examination. A pass means a Foundation certificate in Business Analysis and that puts you one step closer to a BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis. But that’s not all, as well as covering the entire BCS syllabus, this programme will develop your SFIA skills, REQM, level 3.

For delegates attending a classroom, virtual classroom or online course, the exam may be taken remotely using the BCS online proctoring service. This exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions with a pass mark of 26/40.

Further Learning

If this course is part of your BCS Diploma in Business Analysis programme you have a choice of further modules which include the core BA Diploma modules, Business Analysis Practice and Requirements Engineering. Candidates who have already completed Foundation in Business Analysis also need to pass one of the Specialist Practitioner modules, from Benefits Management and Business Acceptance, Systems Modelling Techniques, Modelling Business Processes, Systems Development Essentials and Data Management Essentials.

Syllabus

Foundation in Business Change (a three-day course)

Course Content

IT-enabled business change overview

• The role of IT in business change
• Four-view model of a business
• Lifecycle for business change
• Role of programme management
• Stakeholders and roles in business change
• Levels of business transformation
• Techniques for enabling business change

Business/IT alignment

• Understanding the organisation and the business environment
• Strategic analysis techniques
• SWOT analysis
• Key areas for business/IT alignment
• Business architecture frameworks
• IT governance

Business improvement definition

• Principles of systemic thinking
• Gap analysis
• Content of a business case
• Options and feasibility
• Benefits classification
• Risk and impact analysis
• Investment appraisal

Business change design

• Business process improvement
• Work practice and organisational modelling
• Business information modelling and management

Business change implementation

• Planning the change implementation
• Acquiring IT solutions – procurement and development approaches
• Roles in business change implementation
• Organisational and international cultures
• Communications planning

Benefits management

• Approach to benefits management and realisation
• Features and benefits
• CSFs, KPIs and the balanced scorecard

Reviewed: September 2023