Business Analysis is a Hot Topic These Days

Excerpted from a white paper by Elizabeth Larson, PMP & Richard Larson, PMP,
Watermark Learning

In today's competitive landscape, businesses must perform with razor sharp efficiency and productivity. As a result, business analysts are placed under greater pressure to succeed in shorter periods of time.

If you're a business analyst and want to stay at the top of your profession, here are five things that you can do.

Five Facets of Success for Business Analysts

1. Time
Take time to discover the business requirements, particularly the details of those requirements. Complexities arise when different stakeholders have different requirements that must be reconciled and finalized.

2. Technique
Use these complementary tools and techniques to get a more complete set of requirements. When used together, these tools will help you capture and analyze more quickly than when relying on a single technique.

The tools we recommend are:

3. Talent
Learning how to navigate the organizational landscape effectively is as important as communication, probing, and presentation skills. Building relationships, and learning the art of successful negotiation, allows the analyst to walk seamlessly between business and technical areas.

4. Traceability
Trace all requirements forward to the finished product to verify they have been addressed. If approved goals and needs are overlooked, then rework will occur, meaning time will be needed to complete them.

5. Trust
Business analysts and project managers don't always have time to let relationships develop, and need techniques to help build trust more quickly. To capture requirements quickly and completely, trust needs to be present.

For a more in-depth look at these five facets of a successful business analyst, request our white paper.

Companies Respond to the Needs of Business Analysis

Today, more and more businesses are recognizing the value that business analysts bring to an organization and the need to equip business analysts with the tools they need to succeed. In response to this need, in July 2005, Watermark Learning, in partnership with Auburn University, launched a Masters Certificate in Business Analysis -- a series of courses aimed at providing the tools and techniques for success!

To date, many companies, including Allianz Life, have embraced the program and have even established Business Analyst Centers of Practice to ensure their business analysts have the framework, processes, skills, and techniques to excel.

In addition to offering the Masters Program for Business Analysts, Watermark Learning is actively involved in raising industry awareness of the value of business analysis and was just named an IIBA Endorsed Education Provider. Watermark Learning has helped create the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) chapters in Minneapolis and Phoenix.

Principals and Founders, Elizabeth Larson, PMP, and Richard Larson, PMP, have helped develop the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK), a document created to identify the key tasks that a business analyst would be expected to understand and perform. Elizabeth Larson was also chosen to participate in the IIBA BABOK exam writing committee in Toronto this month.

For more information on Watermark Learning's Business Analysis Certification Program,
visit our web site or view this press release.

25,000 and Counting In the course of training hundreds of students in the Masters Certificate in Business Analysis as well as Project Management, Watermark Learning celebrates its 25,000th student!

Upcoming Industry Events and Speaking Engagements

Look for us at these events: PMI Global Congress North America 2006 October 21-24, 2006 Seattle, WA Influencing Without Authority: Time to Rev up your Internal Consulting Skills IIBA Des Moines, IA October 26, 2006 Des Moines, IA Getting Requirements Right World Congress for Business Analysts November 6-9, 2006 Orlando, FL Elizabeth Larson, PMP, and Richard Larson, PMP, will present for IIBA separately on the BABOK. Receive a 15% discount on registration fees. Enter code SPONM181920WL. Project Summit Business Analyst World November 14, 2006 Chicago, IL Gathering Requirements: Go Away Please! How Lack of Trust Contributes to Project Risk and Failure IIBA Phoenix Chapter November 15, 2006 Phoenix, AZ 2006 MN Government IT Symposium December 12-14, 2006 St. Paul, MN Influencing Without Authority: Time to Rev up your Internal Consulting Skills

Partnerships

Watermark Learning is an educational partner of Auburn University. CEUs and Masters Certificate available Watermark Learning is an International Corporate Sponsor and Endorsed Education Provider, Charter Member. Watermark Learning is a Global Registered Education Provider.

Watermark Learning Achieves IIBA Endorsed Education Provider Status The International Institute of Business Analysis has designated Watermark Learning the right to call itself an Endorsed Education Provider (EEP), Charter Member. EEP awarded Watermark the distinction after reviewing all its courses on business analysis (BA) to ensure that they are aligned with the IIBA Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK).

IIBA Unveils First Certified Business Analysis Professional Exam IIBA recently announced that the first Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP™) exam will be held on November 10, 2006 in Orlando, FL. “The release of the CBAP™ examination marks the achievement of one of the IIBA’s key goals; to provide an industry recognized certification for business analysis professionals,” said Kathleen Barrett, president of the IIBA. View the press release.

Share your story of how learning more about project management or business analysis helped you or your company. Selected stories may be used in upcoming issues or other communications. Submit your story now or send an email and we will contact you!

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About Watermark Learning

Watermark Learning is a leading business analysis and project management skill development company. Watermark offers training and mentoring on Project Management, Business Requirements Analysis, Leadership, and Software Development including UML training. Clients include professionals from Wells Fargo Bank, 3M, GMAC/RFC, Cargill, Inc., Securian (formerly Minnesota Life), ING/Reliastar, MetLife, State of Minnesota, and other Fortune 1000 organizations.

Watermark Learning - offices in Minneapolis, MN and Phoenix, AZ.

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