Thoughts from a Couple of CBAPs The Thoughts from a Couple of CBAPs Blog will cover all topics that may have some interest to us as Business Analysts.
BABOK Underlying Competencies
4/25/2008 | posted by
bcarkenord
One of the things that I am really excited about in the draft version 2.0 of the BABOK is Chapter 8: Underlying Competencies. This section acknowledges important behaviors, characteristics, knowedge and qualities that a BA should have but that are not exclusively owned by business analysis.
The competencies are categorized into 1) analytical thinking and problem solving, 2) behavioral characteristics (like ethics and trustworthiness), 3) business knowledge, 4) communication skills, 5) gro ...
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Seriously, Are You a Good Listener?
4/7/2008 | posted by
Kupe
Hear me out! I go to my gym to workout at least 3 times a week. I go at different times each visit so I do not have the pleasure of getting to know the staff that well because of the changing shifts. Each time I go to pick up my membership card when getting ready to leave I give the front desk staff my last name in the following manner, "Kupersmith with a 'K'." Kupersmith is pronounced Coopersmith. 9 out of 10 times the person  ...
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Death march projects
2/15/2008 | posted by
bcarkenord
Yesterday on our webinar, an attendee asked what to do when you are on a project that you realize should not continue. I immediately was reminded of a great book that was published a few years ago: Death March: The complete software developer's guide to surviving "mission impossible" projects by Ed Yourdon.
Yourdon has seen lots of projects during his career and provides a project assessment to determine if a project is a diaster waiting to happen. I bought this book a few ...
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Will the CBAP be as big as the PMP?
1/4/2008 | posted by
bcarkenord
Happy 2008! With the dawn of a new year, lots of business analysts are looking forward to earning their IIBA certification (CBAP) this year. The number of people who will be able to certify is still limited somewhat because the exam is still taken on paper and must be proctored in select locations. The IIBA is working toward streamlining this process and making the exam more accessible to everyone.
I have heard lots of people speculate that the CBAP will be as popular as the PMP certification. ...
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What's the difference between a BA and an SA?
11/30/2007 | posted by
bcarkenord
I was in Johannesburg, South Africa last week talking with business analysis professionals and was asked several times to describe the difference between a business analyst and a systems analyst. This is not an easy question to answer because titles are used inconsistently and many of us wear many hats. I will give you my answer and am interested to hear others!
Both roles are "analysts" which means that we use many of the same analysis techniques and require many of the same skills. ...
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Where's the Usability?
11/27/2007 | posted by
Kupe
I posted this blog entry below on the Business Analyst Blog and there was some great dialogue. I hope the same happens here! Enjoy.
Even though development tools and techniques have improved drastically I still hear from corporate application users that the systems their IT department built or purchased for them lack usability. We all know that projects are still failing or challenged based on the triple constraint (Time, Budget, Scope). I wonder if the ...
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Business analysis must be a real profession now!!
10/27/2007 | posted by
bcarkenord
I just discovered an e-book that offers a money back guarantee that you will be "blown away" called "How to become a business analyst!"
It is offered by an organization called IT Career Coach which looks like a recruiting company. They have an article on the difference between a business analyst and a programmer and give advice on how you should decide which to become. They also give you sample interview questions and advice on how to answer when lo ...
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Requirements Planning is Personal
10/26/2007 | posted by
Kupe
By "personal" I don't mean that you need to keep your requirements planning to yourself. No secret diary should be used requiring your project manager to snoop around your desk late at night to discover when you will be done with your requirements tasks. Your requirements plan needs to be shared with the project team and all stakeholders involved in the project. What I mean is that no two Business Analysts will have an identical plan and that is OK.&nbs ...
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